Manitoba Premier Labels Trump “Bad Person” As Canada Weighs Trade Concessions

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew delivered sharp criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, describing him as a “bad person” who is “erratic,” “irresponsible,” and “not to be trusted,” while cautioning against hasty concessions in ongoing Canada-U.S. trade negotiations. Speaking at a news conference, Kinew argued that Canada retains significant leverage and should continue pressing rather than rushing toward an agreement that could later unravel.

Kinew’s comments came as his province considers restoring sales of U.S. alcohol products in provincial liquor stores at the request of Prime Minister Mark Carney. The move is viewed as one element that could help finalize a deal aimed at averting threatened 50 percent U.S. tariffs on a substantial volume of Canadian goods. Despite his skepticism toward Trump, Kinew indicated Manitoba may still align with the federal request as part of a broader “Team Canada” effort, though he urged consumers to continue prioritizing Canadian products even if American alcohol returns to shelves.

Federal Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc reported that negotiators were “very close” to an agreement after returning to Washington for further talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Canadian officials planned to remain in the U.S. capital to advance the discussions. President Trump has characterized the emerging framework as “very fair” to both sides. Tariffs affecting roughly $20 billion in Canadian imports have been postponed until 12:01 a.m. Saturday, providing a short window to complete the text. Neither government has released the full details of the prospective deal.

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Several other provincial leaders, including the premiers of Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, have publicly expressed support for the direction of Carney’s negotiations. The alcohol restrictions themselves originated as a coordinated provincial response to earlier U.S. tariff actions beginning in 2025. Kinew noted that any restoration of U.S. products would not preclude future adjustments should circumstances change, underscoring his view that reliability remains a central concern in dealing with the current U.S. administration.

The discussions occur against the backdrop of long-standing North American trade arrangements under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement and repeated sectoral tariff pressures on Canadian steel, aluminum, autos, and other goods. While Ottawa seeks relief and greater predictability, provincial governments continue to weigh the practical and political implications of concessions requested by the federal side. As the Saturday deadline approaches, attention remains focused on whether the final text will deliver durable benefits for Canadian industries and workers.

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