Trump thinks Canadians ‘nasty' for avoiding U.S. travel, banning booze: ambassador
The United States ambassador to Canada says Canadians avoiding U.S. travel and banning American alcohol are among the reasons Donald Trump thinks they are 'nasty' to deal with.
Pete Hoekstra told a conference audience on Monday that such steps 'don't send positive signals' about Canada treating the U.S. well.
Hoekstra was speaking at the annual Pacific NorthWest Economic Region Foundation summit in Bellevue, Washington.
The Canadian Press was provided with a recording of the ambassador's comments by the office of B.C. Premier David Eby, which said it received the audio from someone who was in the audience.
Eby says in a statement that Hoekstra's remarks show Canadians' efforts to stand up to Trump are 'having an impact,' and he encouraged people to 'keep it up.'
A representative of Hoekstra's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The ambassador made the remarks in answer to a question from a conference moderator about what could be done to get people travelling again as Vancouver and Seattle prepare to host games as part of next year's FIFA World Cup.
'Canadians staying home, that's their business, you know. I don't like it, but if that's what they want to do, it's fine. They want to ban American alcohol. That's fine,' he says.
'There are reasons why the president and some of his team referred to Canada as being mean and nasty to deal with, OK, because of some of those steps.'
Hoekstra adds that he 'can get alcohol across the border if (he) wanted to.'
'We go back and forth to Michigan and they don't check my car when I come back,' he said, drawing laughs from the crowd.
Eby's statement in response to Hoekstra's remarks says people should keep buying Canadian products and keep their vacations Canadian.
'We won't take these attacks on our jobs, our economy and our sovereignty, lying down. We'll stand strong together,' the premier says in the emailed statement.
B.C. is among the provinces that banned the sale of U.S. alcohol from government-run stores after Trump slapped steep tariffs on goods from Canada, a move that has prompted some Canadians to cancel their cross-border trips.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2025.
Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press
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The Province
29 minutes ago
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Trump thinks Canadians 'nasty' for avoiding U.S. travel, banning booze: ambassador
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Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Pete Hoekstra told a conference audience on Monday that such steps 'don't send positive signals' about Canada treating the United States well. Hoekstra was speaking at the annual Pacific NorthWest Economic Region Foundation summit in Bellevue, Washington. The Canadian Press was provided with a recording of the ambassador's comments by the office of B.C. Premier David Eby, which said it received the audio from someone who was in the audience. Eby said in a statement that Hoekstra's remarks show Canadians' efforts to stand up to Trump are 'having an impact,' and he encouraged people to 'keep it up.' A statement from a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy said later Monday that Hoekstra had also expressed 'optimism' about the future of the relationship between the two countries during his remarks that lasted nearly an hour. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The email said Hoekstra also told the crowd there will be 'more opportunity to grow this relationship in a much stronger, in a much bigger way than what we have today.' 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Eby's statement in response to Hoekstra's remarks said people should keep buying Canadian products and keep their vacations Canadian. 'We won't take these attacks on our jobs, our economy and our sovereignty, lying down. We'll stand strong together,' the premier said in the emailed statement. B.C. is among the provinces that banned the sale of U.S. alcohol from government-run stores after Trump slapped steep tariffs on goods from Canada. Trump's actions have prompted some Canadians to cancel their cross-border trips. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In March, the number of Canadians returning home by car from south of the border fell nearly 32 per cent compared to the same month last year. It was the third consecutive month of year-over-year declines and the steepest plunge since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Statistics Canada. Return trips by air meanwhile fell 13.5 per cent year-over-year that month. 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