9 hours ago
1
Briefing|How Trump Is Helping Liberals Abroad
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/briefing/donald-trump-international-relations.html
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
President Trump’s trade war is escalating. Yesterday, the European Union and Canada announced billions of dollars in retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports.
There’s a good reason nations are fighting back: Opposing Trump is helping world leaders domestically.
Trump’s methods — insisting on tariffs, threatening to buy territory, insulting allies — have infuriated voters in Britain, Mexico, Ukraine and elsewhere. In Canada, for instance, the Liberal Party mounted an extraordinary comeback against the Conservatives this week. Mark Carney, the incoming prime minister, helped revive his party with a promise to oppose Trump: “Canada never, ever will be part of America in any way, shape or form,” Carney said of the president’s threat to annex his country. “Make no mistake. In trade as in hockey, Canada will win.”
Conservative
40%
30
Liberal
20
NDP
10
BQ
Green
PPC
Other
2022
2023
2024
2025
Conservative
40%
30
Liberal
20
NDP
10
BQ
Green
PPC
Other
2022
2023
2024
2025
Trump has given some populations abroad an adversary to mobilize against. Now they’re backing leaders who take a stand against him. It’s a phenomenon known in political science as the “rally ’round the flag” effect. When a country faces a crisis, public support for the leader or the current governing party often rises.
Below, I’ll explain how Trump’s antagonism is actually helping some of his opponents.
What is happening
Trump is fracturing America’s alliances. But the world leaders involved? They’re doing fine.
