President Donald Trump has been making false claims about Canada for months. He did it again in the days leading up to his scheduled Tuesday meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney. In an interview that aired Sunday on NBC, Trump made Canada’s military spending sound much smaller than it is and made the US trade deficit with Canada sound much bigger than it is. And in a late-April interview with The Atlantic, he exaggerated the extent of Canada’s trade reliance on the US. Here is a fact check of these claims – and a bunch of others Trump has made about Canada this year. Canada’s military spending Trump, who has spoken repeatedly of his desire to somehow turn Canada into the 51st US state, said in the NBC interview: “And by the way, Canada, they spend less money on military than practically any nation in the world. They pay NATO less than any nation.” Facts First: It’s not true that Canada is the lowest military spender in NATO or “practically” the world’s lowest military spender. Official NATO estimates show that, of the 31 alliance members with a standing army, Canada had the eighth-highest defense spending in absolute terms in 2024; it had the fifth-lowest defense spending as a percentage of gross domestic product – low, but not lower “than any nation.” The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which tracks global military spending, reported that Canada was the world’s 16th-highest 2024 military spender in absolute terms out of more than 150 countries for which the institute had data. Trump’s claim is still wrong if he happened to be speaking literally about members’ direct contributions to NATO’s organizational budget. Canada is currently the 6th-largest contributor to NATO’s “common funding” pool. The US trade deficit with Canada Trump has repeatedly said the US has a “$200 billion” trade deficit with Canada. He used a familiar vaguer formulation in the NBC interview, claiming, “We subsidize Canada to the tune of $200 billion a year.” Facts First: Trump’s claim is not even close to true. Official US statistics show the 2024 deficit with Canada in goods and services trade was $35.7 billion. Even if you only count trade in goods and ignore the services trade at which the US excels, the deficit was $70.6 billion. And even if he was this time using the word “subsidize” to describe unspecified other things in addition to the trade deficit, there is no basis for the claim. The US-Canada trade relationship Trump, talking about Canada, claimed to The Atlantic that “they do 95% of their business with us.” Facts First: There’s no doubt Canada is heavily reliant on its trade relationship with the US, but Trump’s “95%” figure is a significant exaggeration. Canada’s federal statistics agency reported in February: “In 2024, the United States was the destination for 75.9% of Canada’s total exports, and was the source of 62.2% of Canada’s total imports.” Other Trump false claims about Canada Here are some other false claims about Canada that Trump has made in 2025: Canada’s defense spending: Trump falsely claimed in January that Canada spends “less than 1%” of GDP on defense. The official NATO estimates show Canada spent an estimated 1.37% of GDP on defense in 2024, up from an estimated 1.31% in 2023 and from 1.2% in 2022. That’s all short of NATO’s 2% target, which Carney has vowed to meet by 2030, but not as low as Trump claimed. Canadians’ views on becoming the 51st state: Trump falsely claimed to reporters in January that “the people of Canada like” his idea of Canada joining the US. In fact, poll after poll has shown the idea is massively unpopular with the people of Canada. It has been vehemently rejected by Carney and other Canadian political leaders from left to right. Canada’s tariffs in general: Trump falsely claimed in a social media post in March that Canada is “ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.” In fact, Canada has long had relatively low tariffs, though it has this year announced a series of new retaliatory tariffs on the US in direct response to Trump’s own new tariffs on Canada. Canada was just 102nd-highest on a World Bank list of 137 countries’ trade-weighted average tariff rates in 2022, the last year for which the data is available – and had a lower average (1.37%) than the United States (1.49%) that year, the most recent for which the data is available. Canada’s dairy tariffs and former President Joe Biden: Trump falsely claimed to reporters in March that he had Canada’s dairy-tariff situation “well taken care of” at the time he left office the first time, “but under Biden, they just kept raising it.” In fact, Canada did not raise its dairy tariffs during the Biden administration. The tariffs Trump is denouncing were left in place by the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement he signed in 2018, though that agreement did secure greater US access to the Canadian dairy market. Trump has also persistently failed to mention that Canada’s high dairy tariffs only kick in after the US has hit a certain Trump-negotiated quantity of tariff-free dairy sales to Canada each year – and as the US dairy industry acknowledges, the US is not hitting its zero-tariff maximum in any category of dairy product, so the tariffs aren’t being applied. Exemptions from Canada’s dairy tariffs: Trump falsely claimed in April that Canada has low tariffs on only one carton of milk imported from the US, but then imposes massive tariffs on all other US milk imports. In reality, Canada guaranteed in the USMCA that tens of thousands of metric tons of imported US milk per year, not merely a single carton, will face zero tariffs. Canada’s imports of US agricultural products: Trump, speaking of Canada, claimed in February that “they don’t take our agricultural product for the most part”; he mentioned dairy, then said, “A little bit they do, but not much.” This is false even with Trump’s qualifiers. Canada was the world’s second-largest buyer of US agricultural exports in 2024, according to the US Department of Agriculture, purchasing about $28.4 billion worth. While Canada does limit foreign access to its dairy, egg and poultry markets in particular, these are exceptions rather than the rule. The US Department of Agriculture notes on its website that “almost all” US agricultural exports to Canada face zero tariffs or quotas, and that “Canada consistently ranks among our top markets for agricultural product exports, representing one of our most significant and reliable trading partners.” Canada and US banks: Trump falsely claimed in both February and March that Canada prohibits US banks. While Canada’s tight regulations have discouraged many foreign banks from opening retail branches there, Canada does not forbid these banks; in fact, US banks have been operating in Canada for well over a century. The Canadian Bankers Association industry group said in a February statement that “there are 16 US-based bank subsidiaries and branches with around C$113 billion in assets currently operating in Canada” and that “U.S. banks now make up approximately half of all foreign bank assets in Canada.” Canada, Russia and China: Trump falsely claimed in January that Canada joining the US would secure Canada “from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them.” Canada has never been surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships, let alone been “constantly” surrounded. In fact, a smattering of Russian and Chinese military ships and jets, as well as Chinese research vessels viewed with suspicion by Canada and the US, have been occasionally spotted in recent years in the vicinity of the US state of Alaska – and have been monitored or intercepted by the Canadian and US militaries. The Canadian government did warn in December that among the “potential threats” in its Arctic region were “increased Russian activity in Canadian air approaches” and “China’s regular deployment of dual-use – having both research and military application – research vessels and surveillance platforms to collect data.” But that’s not the same as being “surrounded.”
Fact check: Trump makes more false claims about Canada in advance of meeting with prime minister
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Trump's Recent Claims About Canada: A Fact-Check Analysis"
CNN
8.7
TruthLens AI Summary
In the lead-up to his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, President Donald Trump has made several inaccurate claims regarding Canada, particularly about its military spending and trade relationship with the United States. During an NBC interview, Trump asserted that Canada spends less on its military than nearly any other nation and suggested the U.S. has a substantial trade deficit with Canada, claiming it to be around $200 billion. However, fact-checking reveals that Canada ranks eighth in NATO for absolute military spending and is the sixth-largest contributor to NATO's common funding pool. The actual U.S. trade deficit with Canada is significantly lower, calculated at approximately $35.7 billion in goods and services trade for 2024, contradicting Trump's inflated figures. Furthermore, Trump's assertion that Canada conducts 95% of its business with the U.S. is an exaggeration; official statistics indicate that the U.S. is the destination for about 75.9% of Canadian exports and the source of 62.2% of its imports.
In addition to these false claims, Trump has made various other misleading statements concerning Canada's defense spending and trade policies throughout 2025. He inaccurately claimed that Canada spends less than 1% of its GDP on defense, when in fact, official estimates show it spent approximately 1.37% in 2024. Trump also misrepresented the popularity of the idea of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, which polls indicate is overwhelmingly rejected by Canadians. Moreover, his comments on Canada's tariffs and agricultural imports do not align with the reality that Canada is a significant market for U.S. agricultural exports. The Canadian government has regulations in place for certain sectors, but overall, the trade relationship remains robust and mutually beneficial. Trump's pattern of exaggerating and misrepresenting facts about Canada raises concerns about the accuracy of information presented in diplomatic discussions, particularly with high-stakes negotiations on the horizon.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article delves into the recent false claims made by President Donald Trump regarding Canada, particularly in the context of an upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney. It serves to fact-check Trump's assertions about Canadian military spending and the trade deficit between the US and Canada, highlighting discrepancies between his statements and factual data.
Purpose of the Article
By fact-checking Trump's claims, the article aims to provide readers with accurate information and counter misinformation that may influence public opinion. The intent is to clarify misconceptions about Canada’s military spending and trade relationship with the US, contributing to a more informed discourse in the lead-up to a significant political meeting.
Public Perception
The article seeks to shape the perception that Trump's statements may be misleading or exaggerated. This can foster skepticism among readers regarding the President's credibility and his understanding of international relations, particularly with a key ally like Canada.
Hidden Agendas
While the article does not explicitly suggest any hidden agendas, it can be inferred that the motivation behind such fact-checking is to hold public figures accountable and to ensure that citizens have access to truthful information, particularly in politically charged environments.
Manipulative Elements
The manipulation index of this article appears to be low, as it primarily focuses on factual corrections rather than opinion-based assertions. However, the choice of language and emphasis on Trump's inaccuracies may sway readers' sentiments, painting him in a negative light.
Truthfulness of Claims
The claims made in the article are substantiated with data from credible sources, such as NATO and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. This lends a high degree of reliability to the information presented, reinforcing the article's integrity.
Societal Narratives
The narrative that is being projected revolves around the idea that misinformation can have real consequences on international relations and domestic perceptions. This could lead to greater public scrutiny of political leaders and their statements.
Connections to Other News
In the broader context of political reporting, this article aligns with ongoing trends of fact-checking and accountability journalism, particularly in relation to statements made by prominent political figures. It resonates with similar articles that aim to debunk falsehoods and promote transparency.
Impact on Society and Politics
The article has the potential to influence public opinion by encouraging citizens to critically evaluate the information presented by their leaders. This could lead to increased demand for accountability and a more informed electorate.
Support from Communities
The article likely appeals to communities that value factual accuracy and accountability in politics. Individuals who are critical of Trump’s administration or who prioritize international relations may find the content particularly resonant.
Market Implications
While the article may not have a direct impact on stock markets, it could indirectly influence sectors affected by US-Canada relations, such as trade and defense. Companies involved in these areas might experience fluctuations based on public sentiment surrounding political figures.
Global Power Dynamics
The article touches on issues pertinent to global power dynamics, as US-Canada relations are significant within the context of NATO and international diplomacy. The claims made by Trump could have ramifications on how both countries collaborate on defense and trade.
AI Involvement in Writing
It is possible that AI tools were used in drafting the article, particularly in analyzing data and structuring the fact-checking process. AI could have been employed to ensure clarity and coherence in presenting complex information to readers.
Manipulative Aspects
While the article maintains a factual basis, the framing of Trump’s statements as misleading may be perceived as a subtle form of manipulation. The language used could evoke a negative response from readers, potentially influencing their political views.
Overall, the article stands as a reliable source of information, aiming to clarify misconceptions about Canada in the political discourse led by Trump. Its emphasis on fact-checking contributes to a culture of accountability in journalism.