Mr. Kinzinger, I have to ask, what do you think Trump's goal is here? He is destroying decades of trust and cooperation. I am a Canadian ex-patriate and have friends and family who still live up there. To call them angry and feeling betrayed would be a major understatement. The damage that is being done will take a very long time to repair..............if it can ever be repaired.
Would it be possible/practical to organize a “reverse boycott” of tarriffed Canadian goods to show solidarity with Canada? Even if not nearly effective enough to help out their small businesses, if it was large enough it could be a visible sign to the administration and Congress that Biff has crossed the wrong line.
And he couldn't do it without his followers, like the Pied Piper leading the doomed. My question is, why do we elect such people in the numbers that we have? There are always going to be some bigots, misogynists, and lovers of cruelty; but we have installed them en masse in our countries administration. To the world it says one thing: This is who we are. I apologize if that sounds harsh. I would love to hear what other conclusion we might come to.
Well, Trump won the popular vote by a plurality, though not quite a majority. Some sizeable percentage of that number were duped and would not vote the same today.
What we are is a nation with a lot of fools and bigots. And it's also true that we are a nation of committed resisters to all that Trump and his cabal have created, people who are determined to fight him in spite of the fact that the elected Reps in the Senate and House have sold their souls, and in spite of a Supreme Court ruled by fascists and Trumpers. Some Dem presidents and Congresspeople have also made mistakes to get us to this point. We are all of that, not just the one thing. Surely our friends abroad understand that we are not just the ugly face that Trump is painting on our map.
Take heart, keep resisting, and do everything you can to protect and defend our elections.
Yes they might do something like that. That kind of thing really worries me. I do not put ANYTHING past them. They absolutely must be neutralized as soon as we take back the government. The damage they are creating is distressing beyond belief.
The majority of US Americans know reality but we're not in a position of power (no pun intended) to do anything about it -- yet. When the current regime is overthrown we'll work on undoing the tremendous harm president* turnip (not a typo) has caused.
This trade war with our closest allies just breaks my heart. It's so reckless and needless and at this point, given that we elected this idiot twice, why would they ever trust the American people again? Honestly, I can't say I blame them if they don't.
Exactly. Despite grossly mishandling the Covid pandemic, despite inciting an insurrection, despite being accused of sexual assault--despite all his lies, his cruelty, and his corruption, Americans elected Trump again. For me, that was the day our democracy entered its death throes.
Boy, Adam, your clarity on this is very refreshing. Many many people are being bankrupted, betrayed, frightened, and pissed off by the flailing actions of this president, so busy distracting us from Epstein. And we are looking at the biggest climate shock in recorded history building right now for the coming year. Changing who is running the country is important, but changing how it is run is critical to survival.
Once Democrats get the House and Senate back, it’s critical that guardrails are immediately put in place to prevent ANY current and future President his/her Administration from having such overwhelming power over the three branches of government, and from refusing to abide by the rules of our courts (state, federal and supreme) and the Constitution. There has to be consequences for ignoring the laws of our nation and overturning policies in place to ensure peace and prosperity for both Americans (the 99%) and our international allies. In other words, we need to restore our democracy.
Trump is really bugging me. Why is he trying to destroy our relationship with our neighbor and ally, Canada? Trump is unhinged and off his rocker with all these dumb tariffs! What’s his purpose? When will the Republicans stand up to him and say, ”Enough”! Why can’t he see tariffs and the way he uses them DOES NOT WORK! He seems hell bent on destroying America, not making America better.
They have to stand up to him for the sake of our country and reputation (which is almost completely destroyed already). I do not understand them abandoning our Constitution, or our laws or anything else. They do seem to be hell bent on our destruction. It is so mind-boggling, I do not know what to think anymore. All I know is that they have to be voted out ASAP.
I just read on CNN that "Ontario supplies electricity to several US states, including New York, Michigan and Minnesota." That's all blue states. Trump might not give a damn or even see it as a bonus.
Yes, that occurred to me also. The Biff admin may also hope that Canada turns off power or withholds critical minerals in order to declare a national emergency and cancel elections.
My thoughts exactly. I’m torn between if the Republicans have all turned greedy and ignorant or if It’s true that Putin has given Trump and some key Republicans their marching orders to destroy the U.S. More likely the perfect storm of both bringing the country down. America First - to be destroyed.
I think the destruction of the United States is intentional. These Republicans that are enabling this are just as guilty here. I know they can see what is happening. No one can be that short-sighted. This is so upsetting sometimes, I can't even type a response. I have tried over and over to figure out what the Republican congressmen are thinking and I am completely at a loss. They can see how angry everyone is. They do not even have many town hall meetings anymore. No wonder there.
I had a Canadian grandmother and have many valued Canadian friends. Perhaps never having had any friends, Drumpf doesn't understand the concept of friends and allies. In Maine, many of us rely on Canadian power, but nevertheless, I wouldn't blame and might even support Ford if he proceeds.
I would not blame them either. I am surprised they haven't done it sooner. Canada does not want any of this to happen. We are going to have some real work ahead of us to repair the damage done to our reputation. You are absolutely right about him not understanding friendship. He has no idea what that even is.
It’s sickening what rump is doing and with no real reason. Our countries have been good neighbors and would support us if needed. Now…it’s gone! 25th amendment please 🙏
As a Michigander, 45 minutes from the Blue Water Bridge, and having Lake Huron as a front yard—this is puzzling, enraging, and downright terrifying. I also read this morning that the regime is threatening to change the name of Lake Ontario to Lake Michigan. Does that orange goblin think anyone is going to take that seriously? We will never have Canada back as allies. Like everything these SOBs have done, it will either take decades to remedy or be destroyed forever.
And in the last election, if I'm remembering correctly, Michigan voted for DJT, again. Do you think that's changed or that positive view of him is changing?
Honestly, Nancy, no. We moved to a very red rural area ten years ago—and there are a lot of rural areas here in our beautiful state—and their news mostly comes from their churches who actually direct their congregation to vote for YouTube, Fox, and their social media feed algorithms. That was an excellent question though. Please remember that the DeVos family lives here and they are pouring their millions into all of our state elections. I am also very concerned that Governor Whitmer who has been our saving grace is going to be out of office due to term limits. We have always felt insulated with a Democrat at the top, and the state’s AG, and Secretary of State—now, not so much.
Honestly, you have to have had a GIANT BRAIN FART to try to threaten one of our dearest, oldest and most friendly allies. WHAT A KNUCKLEHEAD! It's great to see Canada fighting back - without trying to be politically correct. Good for them, and good for all of you independent journalists who work hard bringing us daily facts and truth in a world filled with lies. Keep up the good work.
Trump..does..not..care. He has Supreme Court immunity, $2 billion dollars in the bank, and a shortening political or physical life span. What he does care about is getting rich, staying out of jail, and getting even. He is also the Lord of Chaos. While he invents shiny objects for us to chase (ballroom, transgender, Kennedy Center etc.), his handlers are quietly setting the table for mid-term havoc.
I just read that Adam is quoted in CNN on Jeffries meeting with Kushner: "
Former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a staunch Trump critic, said in a post on X, “There really is no excuse for a secret meeting, especially before the election.”
I can't blame Mark Carney. I can't blame any Canadian leader. I can't blame the Canadian people for losing trust in us.
Trump did this. He picked a fight with our closest ally and called it strength. It isn't. It's a lose-lose, brought to both countries by a little bully.
Who could blame Canada for cutting the power or adding a surcharge? Trump would do it in a heartbeat. He'd call it leverage.
My hope is that post-bully, we can rebuild what we once took for granted. Friendships survive a lot. But not everything, and not forever.
Thanks for pointing out the problem with regaining our trade status after the Orange Menace. We also won’t regain our credibility with our partners until other nations see that the far Right racist Maga cult has really disintegrated. And I don’t see that happening until we somehow regulate or dismantle far right propaganda machines such as fox. How do we stop the disinformation and extremism as long as the disinformation campaign continues??
Exactly. Trump's exit will only cure so much. A wise man said to me that the world looks at the Trump situation this way: Any country can be fooled by a charlatan once. But if you elect them twice, it's no mistake. It's who you are.
Mr. Kinzinger, I have to ask, what do you think Trump's goal is here? He is destroying decades of trust and cooperation. I am a Canadian ex-patriate and have friends and family who still live up there. To call them angry and feeling betrayed would be a major understatement. The damage that is being done will take a very long time to repair..............if it can ever be repaired.
Would it be possible/practical to organize a “reverse boycott” of tarriffed Canadian goods to show solidarity with Canada? Even if not nearly effective enough to help out their small businesses, if it was large enough it could be a visible sign to the administration and Congress that Biff has crossed the wrong line.
Thank you for your well written commentaries. I am a life long Democrat. You are closer to my values than the current Democratic Party.
You should run for President. I would vote for you!
Excellent essay, Adam. I'd sure love to see it in The Guardian or WaPo or the NYT.
As for the situation.... What an unhinged, simple-minded fool Trump is. He's the GOAT destroyer of the country.
And he couldn't do it without his followers, like the Pied Piper leading the doomed. My question is, why do we elect such people in the numbers that we have? There are always going to be some bigots, misogynists, and lovers of cruelty; but we have installed them en masse in our countries administration. To the world it says one thing: This is who we are. I apologize if that sounds harsh. I would love to hear what other conclusion we might come to.
Well, Trump won the popular vote by a plurality, though not quite a majority. Some sizeable percentage of that number were duped and would not vote the same today.
What we are is a nation with a lot of fools and bigots. And it's also true that we are a nation of committed resisters to all that Trump and his cabal have created, people who are determined to fight him in spite of the fact that the elected Reps in the Senate and House have sold their souls, and in spite of a Supreme Court ruled by fascists and Trumpers. Some Dem presidents and Congresspeople have also made mistakes to get us to this point. We are all of that, not just the one thing. Surely our friends abroad understand that we are not just the ugly face that Trump is painting on our map.
Take heart, keep resisting, and do everything you can to protect and defend our elections.
Go ahead Ontario, pull the plug. It might show Americans Reality
Remember, we didn’t all vote for him.
But Trump would for sure threaten to bomb them, and he and Hegseth are such fools they might do it.
Yes they might do something like that. That kind of thing really worries me. I do not put ANYTHING past them. They absolutely must be neutralized as soon as we take back the government. The damage they are creating is distressing beyond belief.
Trump is a madman who would bomb blue states. He and his cabinet of power-hungry zealots are a danger to all existence.
The majority of US Americans know reality but we're not in a position of power (no pun intended) to do anything about it -- yet. When the current regime is overthrown we'll work on undoing the tremendous harm president* turnip (not a typo) has caused.
This trade war with our closest allies just breaks my heart. It's so reckless and needless and at this point, given that we elected this idiot twice, why would they ever trust the American people again? Honestly, I can't say I blame them if they don't.
Yes, the fact that we elected him twice is what they are thinking about. That trust is not going to be easy to win back. I know that much.
Exactly. Despite grossly mishandling the Covid pandemic, despite inciting an insurrection, despite being accused of sexual assault--despite all his lies, his cruelty, and his corruption, Americans elected Trump again. For me, that was the day our democracy entered its death throes.
Boy, Adam, your clarity on this is very refreshing. Many many people are being bankrupted, betrayed, frightened, and pissed off by the flailing actions of this president, so busy distracting us from Epstein. And we are looking at the biggest climate shock in recorded history building right now for the coming year. Changing who is running the country is important, but changing how it is run is critical to survival.
Once Democrats get the House and Senate back, it’s critical that guardrails are immediately put in place to prevent ANY current and future President his/her Administration from having such overwhelming power over the three branches of government, and from refusing to abide by the rules of our courts (state, federal and supreme) and the Constitution. There has to be consequences for ignoring the laws of our nation and overturning policies in place to ensure peace and prosperity for both Americans (the 99%) and our international allies. In other words, we need to restore our democracy.
Trump is really bugging me. Why is he trying to destroy our relationship with our neighbor and ally, Canada? Trump is unhinged and off his rocker with all these dumb tariffs! What’s his purpose? When will the Republicans stand up to him and say, ”Enough”! Why can’t he see tariffs and the way he uses them DOES NOT WORK! He seems hell bent on destroying America, not making America better.
REPUBLICANS! STAND UP TO TRUMP!
They have to stand up to him for the sake of our country and reputation (which is almost completely destroyed already). I do not understand them abandoning our Constitution, or our laws or anything else. They do seem to be hell bent on our destruction. It is so mind-boggling, I do not know what to think anymore. All I know is that they have to be voted out ASAP.
I just read on CNN that "Ontario supplies electricity to several US states, including New York, Michigan and Minnesota." That's all blue states. Trump might not give a damn or even see it as a bonus.
Yes, that occurred to me also. The Biff admin may also hope that Canada turns off power or withholds critical minerals in order to declare a national emergency and cancel elections.
He's got soooo many excuses to declare a national emergency and cancel th elections. This is just another one.
My thoughts exactly. I’m torn between if the Republicans have all turned greedy and ignorant or if It’s true that Putin has given Trump and some key Republicans their marching orders to destroy the U.S. More likely the perfect storm of both bringing the country down. America First - to be destroyed.
I think the destruction of the United States is intentional. These Republicans that are enabling this are just as guilty here. I know they can see what is happening. No one can be that short-sighted. This is so upsetting sometimes, I can't even type a response. I have tried over and over to figure out what the Republican congressmen are thinking and I am completely at a loss. They can see how angry everyone is. They do not even have many town hall meetings anymore. No wonder there.
I had a Canadian grandmother and have many valued Canadian friends. Perhaps never having had any friends, Drumpf doesn't understand the concept of friends and allies. In Maine, many of us rely on Canadian power, but nevertheless, I wouldn't blame and might even support Ford if he proceeds.
I would not blame them either. I am surprised they haven't done it sooner. Canada does not want any of this to happen. We are going to have some real work ahead of us to repair the damage done to our reputation. You are absolutely right about him not understanding friendship. He has no idea what that even is.
I'm not certain we'll ever be able to regain even a vestige of our former reputation, as he's destroyed it so thoroughly with minimal pushback.
And they and the world know we voted for DJT TWICE!!
IKR?!?! That is going to be really hard for them to get over if they ever do.
It’s sickening what rump is doing and with no real reason. Our countries have been good neighbors and would support us if needed. Now…it’s gone! 25th amendment please 🙏
As a Michigander, 45 minutes from the Blue Water Bridge, and having Lake Huron as a front yard—this is puzzling, enraging, and downright terrifying. I also read this morning that the regime is threatening to change the name of Lake Ontario to Lake Michigan. Does that orange goblin think anyone is going to take that seriously? We will never have Canada back as allies. Like everything these SOBs have done, it will either take decades to remedy or be destroyed forever.
And in the last election, if I'm remembering correctly, Michigan voted for DJT, again. Do you think that's changed or that positive view of him is changing?
Honestly, Nancy, no. We moved to a very red rural area ten years ago—and there are a lot of rural areas here in our beautiful state—and their news mostly comes from their churches who actually direct their congregation to vote for YouTube, Fox, and their social media feed algorithms. That was an excellent question though. Please remember that the DeVos family lives here and they are pouring their millions into all of our state elections. I am also very concerned that Governor Whitmer who has been our saving grace is going to be out of office due to term limits. We have always felt insulated with a Democrat at the top, and the state’s AG, and Secretary of State—now, not so much.
Honestly, you have to have had a GIANT BRAIN FART to try to threaten one of our dearest, oldest and most friendly allies. WHAT A KNUCKLEHEAD! It's great to see Canada fighting back - without trying to be politically correct. Good for them, and good for all of you independent journalists who work hard bringing us daily facts and truth in a world filled with lies. Keep up the good work.
Canada might be politically correct in looking out for their country and its citizens. Good for Carney and Ford.
Yes, agree. But I appreciate their not mincing words.
Trump..does..not..care. He has Supreme Court immunity, $2 billion dollars in the bank, and a shortening political or physical life span. What he does care about is getting rich, staying out of jail, and getting even. He is also the Lord of Chaos. While he invents shiny objects for us to chase (ballroom, transgender, Kennedy Center etc.), his handlers are quietly setting the table for mid-term havoc.
I just read that Adam is quoted in CNN on Jeffries meeting with Kushner: "
Former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a staunch Trump critic, said in a post on X, “There really is no excuse for a secret meeting, especially before the election.”
Go, Adam!
I can't blame Mark Carney. I can't blame any Canadian leader. I can't blame the Canadian people for losing trust in us.
Trump did this. He picked a fight with our closest ally and called it strength. It isn't. It's a lose-lose, brought to both countries by a little bully.
Who could blame Canada for cutting the power or adding a surcharge? Trump would do it in a heartbeat. He'd call it leverage.
My hope is that post-bully, we can rebuild what we once took for granted. Friendships survive a lot. But not everything, and not forever.
Thanks for pointing out the problem with regaining our trade status after the Orange Menace. We also won’t regain our credibility with our partners until other nations see that the far Right racist Maga cult has really disintegrated. And I don’t see that happening until we somehow regulate or dismantle far right propaganda machines such as fox. How do we stop the disinformation and extremism as long as the disinformation campaign continues??
Exactly. Trump's exit will only cure so much. A wise man said to me that the world looks at the Trump situation this way: Any country can be fooled by a charlatan once. But if you elect them twice, it's no mistake. It's who you are.