In Canada's Snap Elections, Trump Is the One to Beat

Donald Trump’s shadow is looming large over Canada’s general election.

Mark Carney, the new Canadian prime minister, and his Conservative rival Pierre Poilievre are in the race of their lives – not just against each other, but to create as much distance between themselves and the US president as possible.

Since Mr Trump entered the White House in January and took an increasingly belligerent stance on the US’ northern neighbour, he has turned Canadian politics on his head.

For months, the Conservatives appeared to be cruising for a landslide with a 20-point lead over the Liberals, while Mr Poilievre was a darling of the Right who played into MAGA comparisons with his “Canada First” policies.

But with the US president launching a trade war against Canada and repeatedly mulling about annexing it as a “51st state”, the political landscape is unrecognisable from what it was a few short months ago.