Why US and Canadian conservatives backed Trump’s China trip but slammed Carney’s

Conservative politicians and commentators in both the United States and Canada adopted starkly different tones regarding visits to Beijing by their respective leaders. While Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney faced intense criticism from conservatives for his January trip to China, former US President Donald Trump's recent visit was lauded.

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from saying China was Canada’s ‘biggest security threat’ before the election to announcing a ‘strategic partnership’ with Beijing after the election

In Canada, the opposition Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, questioned Carney's pivot from labeling China Canada's "biggest security threat" before the election to announcing a "strategic partnership" afterward. Similarly, US conservative podcaster Alex Jones accused Carney of capitulating to Chinese leadership.

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hedge with China

Conversely, Trump's visit was framed by conservatives on both sides of the border as a display of strength against China. Instead of criticism, various US interest groups reportedly offered Trump advice on how to secure greater concessions from Beijing. This divergence highlights a perceived difference in how conservatives view engagement with China, with Trump's approach being favored over Carney's.

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falling into a trap set to make them dependent on Beijing