As trade tensions between the United States and Canada escalate, former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark is urging Canadians to recognize that U.S. President Donald Trump is “a showman before he’s a statesman.”
Speaking ahead of the upcoming G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta — where leaders of the world’s top economies are gathering — Clark reflected on Trump’s aggressive trade tactics, including tariffs on Canadian exports and provocative threats to absorb Canada as the “51st state.”
“He is a showman before he’s a statesman, and we have to bear that in mind,” Clark said in a recent interview. “That instinct is present in many public officials today, but Trump takes it to another level — he’s more focused on making an impression than building agreement.”
Clark emphasized the challenges that come with negotiating with a leader driven by spectacle rather than diplomacy. “It’s difficult to deal with, but not impossible,” he added.
Since launching the trade offensive in February, Trump has disrupted traditional diplomacy with unilateral measures and unpredictable rhetoric. Clark voiced concern about who, if anyone, is reining him in. “One of the key questions is: who around him has the power to restrain him?”
Despite reports of progress toward a bilateral trade deal, insiders say that Trump’s volatile personality and domestic distractions — including protests in Los Angeles and his public feud with Elon Musk — continue to cast uncertainty over negotiations.
Looking ahead to the G7 summit, Clark noted that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s strength lies in his timing. He also stressed the importance of leaders engaging in private, off-camera dialogue.
“With Trump, much of the real progress is likely to happen behind closed doors,” Clark said. “His public approach is performative, and that makes quiet diplomacy all the more important.”
Clark previously served as Canada’s prime minister from 1979 to 1980, and as foreign affairs minister under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in the 1980s.
