CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers on Friday accused President Trump of being intimidated by Canada in the ongoing trade dispute, arguing that the current administration's approach marks a departure from the firm stance of his predecessors.
“We’re getting bullied by Canada,” Sellers said during a panel discussion on CNN. “Joe Biden didn’t get bullied by Canada. Barack Obama didn’t get bullied by Canada. George W. Bush didn’t get bullied by Canada.”
Sellers’ remarks come as the White House and Ottawa exchange escalating tariffs, with Trump imposing a 50 percent levy on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged “dollar for dollar” retaliatory measures, further straining the relationship between the two allies.
The commentator also criticized Trump’s executive order renaming Lake Ontario—a body of water shared with Canada—to “Lake America.” Sellers called the move emblematic of a broader lack of seriousness in U.S. governance.
“We’re a deeply unserious country right now,” Sellers said. “The name is over 400 years old. It predates the Confederation of Canada. It predates the Declaration of Independence. Like, what are we doing?”
The lake renaming is the latest flashpoint in a dispute that began when Canada withdrew from trade negotiations. Carney and other Canadian officials have rejected the name change, noting that Canada is not obligated to recognize it. Trump has also renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” early in his second term.
The escalating trade war has raised concerns about broader economic and security implications. Analysts warn that the tariffs could disrupt supply chains and affect defense cooperation, as highlighted in this analysis of military readiness risks. Meanwhile, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has cautioned Canada against further retaliation, as reported earlier.
The feud between Trump and Carney shows no signs of cooling, with both sides digging in. Sellers’ criticism underscores a growing narrative among Democrats that Trump’s confrontational style is backfiring, leaving the U.S. in a weaker negotiating position.
