Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Trump on "hostile" acts

The European Union’s invitation to Canada on Wednesday to become an “associate member” of the bloc shows how intent traditional United States allies are on pursuing a more stable future by binding closer together, a move President Trump said could be perceived as “a hostile act.”

As if to confirm the deep concerns that pushed them closer, Mr. Trump threatened retribution.

"If Europe does that, with a bad intention — if it’s a good intention, that’s fine — if it’s bad intention we’ll put very heavy tariffs on Europe, which is a possibility."

[Pause. Is wanting to make Canada the 51st state "a hostile act"? Is it a "good intention" or a "bad intention" toward Canada? Is wanting to take Greenland "one way or the other" from NATO ally Denmark "a hostile act"? "Good intention" or "bad intention", your Greenland intent? Are tariffs hostile acts? Is an intent to avoid your tariffs a hostile act? Good intention? Bad intention? Unpause.]