We've lost Canada

A majority of Canadians now dislike the United States, a first since records began being kept 35 years ago. Likely, though, it has been much longer since Canadians felt so negatively about their southerly neighbors: "Maybe it was pretty bad in 1812," Environics Institute executive director Keith Neuman quipped to the Toronto Star, "but there's no data for that."

Under President Trump, only 43 percent of Canadians view the U.S. favorably, with 51 percent holding a negative view. The revelation comes from a Pew study that also found just two countries trust America more under President Trump than under former President Barack Obama. Canadians are especially stung, though: Under Obama, 83 percent of Canadians trusted the American president to do the right thing, while just 22 percent feel the same confidence in Trump.

Historian Jack Granatstein, an expert on Canadian anti-Americanism, offered the Star an explanation. "Most Canadians think, I believe, that the Americans go into periodic episodes of utter craziness, and they're in one now," said Granatstein. "So it's not surprising that Canadians would reach back to their tribal beliefs and assume that. It's a long history."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up