A close friend of U.S. Senator JD Vance, who is a Canadian politician, has withdrawn an invitation for Vance to visit Canada, citing growing anti-Trump sentiment across the country.
Relations between Canada and the United States have become increasingly strained in recent weeks. Among the flashpoints: former President Donald Trump and his allies have made provocative remarks suggesting Canada could become the “51st state” of the U.S.—a notion Canadian officials and the public have flatly rejected.
Tensions have also escalated due to Trump-era trade policies, including the imposition of 25 percent tariffs on Canadian exports. These measures, part of a broader trade war strategy, have not been well received north of the border.
The public backlash has been noticeable. In recent weeks, Canadian crowds have been reported booing the American national anthem at sporting events, highlighting the souring mood toward the U.S.
In this charged atmosphere, the rescinding of the visit invitation underscores how political divisions are beginning to affect even personal relationships between figures in both countries.
The rhetoric from the Donald Trump administration has been rubbing Canadians the wrong way (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
Canadian politicians have increasingly called for greater respect from the United States.
Jamil Jivani, a 37-year-old Canadian MP and close friend of U.S. Senator JD Vance—whom he met while studying at Yale—recently illustrated the growing unease toward American politics in Canada.
Jivani had previously invited Vance to visit his Ontario constituency but has since rescinded the offer, citing the current political climate.
“This wouldn’t be a constructive time for a visit,” he told Politico, referring to rising tensions. “Right now, we have strong political disagreements—that’s just the reality.”
He added: “They may want to reconsider their rhetoric and policies before visiting. Canada deserves more respect before we can welcome them here.”
Jamil Jivani has said what American politicians have been saying about Canada has been a problem for him (Jamil Jivani/Twitter)
Jivani said that anti-American sentiment has been used against him politically, with opponents targeting his friendship with U.S. Senator J.D. Vance.
Reflecting on the April election, he described the experience as “frustrating.”
“They ran attack ads highlighting my friendship with JD,” he said. “They even doctored photos of us and distributed them in mailboxes across my riding. The misrepresentation of who I am, what I stand for, and my commitment to this country was incredibly frustrating.”
Jivani also expressed concern over recent comments made by U.S. politicians about Canada, acknowledging that he and Vance haven’t been in touch lately.
“We haven’t spoken in a while — he’s busy, I’m busy. That’s just the nature of our work,” he said. “But yes, the way some U.S. politicians have talked about Canada has been troubling for me personally. I’m a proud Canadian focused on my community, and we’ll see what comes next.”
