President Donald Trump on Friday confirmed that he made inflammatory off-the-record remarks about Canada, as he blasted the leak while also saying, “At least Canada knows where I stand!”
The Toronto Star earlier Friday printed remarks Trump made during an interviewwith Bloomberg News the day before, in which he said the United States won’t budge on a trade deal with Canada unless it is “totally on our terms.”
“Wow, I made OFF THE RECORD COMMENTS to Bloomberg concerning Canada, and this powerful understanding was BLATANTLY VIOLATED. Oh well, just more dishonest reporting. I am used to it,” the president wrote on Twitter. “At least Canada knows where I stand!”
The Toronto Star cited a source in its article on the comments, which Trump said he did not want on the record because they could hinder a deal with Canada.
The Trump administration has been meeting with Canadian officials after the U.S. made a preliminary two-way deal with Mexico earlier this week to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. Negotiators for both the countries were battling over agriculture and other issues in Friday’s discussion.
Trump on Thursday told Bloomberg on the record that Canada is “going to make a deal at some point.”
“It may be by Friday or it may be within a period of time, but ultimately they have no choice,” Trump said Thursday in the interview with Bloomberg. “I think we’re close to a deal.”
The president, however, also said: “Off the record: totally on our terms. Totally,” the Star reported.
“Again off the record, they came knocking on our doors last night. ‘Let’s make a deal. Please,’” Trump added.
Trump also reportedly said that if he did say some of his remarks on the record, then they would be “so insulting” that Canada would not agree on a deal.
“Here’s the problem. If I say no — the answer’s no. If I say no, then you’re going to put that, and it’s going to be so insulting they’re not going to be able to make a deal … I can’t kill these people,” the president said of the Canadian government, according to the Star.
White House deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters initially told the Star that she was looking into “the authenticity of what was said.”
“If this was said, it was said in an off the record capacity. I understand you guys have obtained it; I’m not sure where you’ve obtained it from,” Walters told the Star. She would not respond to questions from POLITICO about the authenticity of the comments.
“The Canadian and American negotiators continue to work on reaching a win-win deal that benefits both countries,” she said in a later statement.
A Bloomberg spokesperson said: “When we agree that something is off the record, we respect that.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, at an event in Oshawa, Ontario, was asked about Trump’s comments, to which he said that Canada is “going to remain constructive, positive, serious and creative about what we do around the negotiating table, in what we do in relation with the United States.”
Trump doubled down on his comments during an event in North Carolina on Friday afternoon.
“I said in the end it’s OK because at least Canada knows how I feel,” Trump said of his off-the-record remarks being published.
Trump again confirmed he made a “strong” statement about Canada off the record and that the term of agreement was “violated.”
“I said something strong, but it’s my belief and they violated it,” Trump said of his comments, but did not specify which outlet he was talking about.
“When you say off the record, it’s not a legal term, but it’s a term of honor,” he added.
The president complained that Canada has “taken advantage of our country for many years” because of their “tremendous trade barriers.”
But he also tried to downplay the stakes of the negotiations.
“If we don’t make a deal with Canada, it’s fine,” Trump said, “but we’ll see how it works out.”
He also offered some affectionate words for the neighbor to the north.
“I love Canada…”I even love their national anthem. It’s called, very appropriately, ‘O Canada.’ Would you like me to sing it?” Trump said. He didn’t follow through on the offer.
You really believe he made remarks that are your business? The thing is you never even followed Obama very much he had very few media questions. I don’t remember seeing or hearing that he kicked the door because he was upset with the dam media as he said. Well it’s different when you have democrats and Hillary paying them to spread fake news. Don’t care any more we are adults and we don’t need you to tell us what he is saying. We listen to what he says not all the traitors from the white house. who knows if they are mad at him you can slander him good. Apparently CnN doesn’t care. Maybe when he gets out of office he will take you to court on each account you are lying about. Like the comments from one interview about putting women in jail for getting an abortion. You asked him two different questions and cut out the middle part of the statement making it mean yes he would put them in jail. Of course that was to the question of “If it is against the law, would you put them in jail if they had an abortion?” By Jake trapper and he said “If it was against the law? and jake said yes ” However when they had it on that night it was Would you put a woman in jail if she got an abortion and he immediately say Yes. So Jake trapper sent out a lie that they still quote and still think and it is a lie.
GOOD GRIEF.LEAVE THIS PRESIDENT ALONE! YOU COULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT
ALL PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS. BUT NO NO!!! THE PEOPLE LOVE HIM DO NOT LISTEN TO
YOUR RHETORIC!!!!! WE LOVE OUR PRESIDENT
We’ll it is a really disapointing that u can’t even trust people when I say is this off the record it means shut it mouth not one person has said something and a blabber mouth is what is small town people call it you know very well that it would bother the pres.
And that is Below right if u tell someone something in trust then I should shut ur mouth no matter what I don’t understand that how small minded people can be one oh I didn’t know that the gossip wouldn’t get out there okay like taking a match and lighting it and expecting it not to burn common sence oh if this gets out it is going to cause prob..
Why is it such a thing to make the pres do to (keep him out of ur business hmmm ) it’s something it just was a simple mistake no it was done just to cause more drama well..
What if we said it secrets to the news so they can blast it stuff out there next time think before u blab…..make so much sense don’t u think it might of been a mistake before it was just like I said blabed out well it’s one thing if it is harmful or currupt in this nation but saying there mind out load is silly who don’t but being a liar and a gossip is another think first learn to have morals he is the pres.
.if u like him or not u are to print the facts not bunch of gossip that isn’t about facts if u report someone I don’t cross the line in this cause it was to hurt not to help learn the two great reporter to bunk…
No loyalty there at all just like having a sign and saying no I didn’t say that thou its not spoke its a lie where i come from u give ur word I keep it a man is only a man if he (keeps his word ) ever heard of this!!!!!been around for along time just like a handshake is to be done strongly shows carector ,just saying sorry is a start but trust must be earned !
Again bullshit reporting, the MEDIA is the ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE. I hope I live long enough to see the media brought to their knees because of their lies and betrayal. It would be a great day.
What’s wrong with Trump openly expressing his feelings ? Isn’t that being transparent? Political correctness is a scourge that keeps on corrupting society. Maurice
He doesn’t know the words.
Charming expressions…….for all the world to see.
Surely the President knows exactly WHO was present when he uttered these comments, including the request (demand?) that they be “off the record”. Sounds like a perfect opportunity to block that individual
s access to direct communication with the President.
“F” THE LIAR!!! THE DESTROYER DECEIVER is a SICK, MALADJUSTED, SELF-INDULGENT STAB YOU IN THE BACK CRIMINAL STEMMING FROM HIS GRANDFATHER DOWN THROUGH THE AGES. SURPRISE, UP POP’S SOMETHING, AND NO ONE ACTUALLY KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, SO, THEY JUST CALL IT DONALD. SOMEONE PLEASE MAKE IT GO AWAY AND TAKE IT’S LIES WITH IT!!!