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NEW YORK — The recent dinner between President-elect Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with Trump’s visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral, extended beyond mere diplomatic engagement. These events transformed into platforms for Trump’s characteristic style of provocation.
During his time in office and through his campaign for a return to the presidency, Trump has consistently utilized confrontational and derisive rhetoric. This includes the playful yet disparaging nicknames given to his political rivals, entertaining impressions of prominent figures, and a plethora of memes propagated on various social media platforms.
As Trump gears up for a comeback to the Oval Office, he has resumed his penchant for controversy, which has drawn increased attention and sparked mixed reactions from the public.
On Sunday, Trump leveraged a photograph of himself seated close to First Lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony, creatively turning it into a promotional showcase for his new line of fragrances. The accompanying tagline boldly declared, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!”
In response, the office of the First Lady chose not to provide any comment.
Trudeau’s swift trip to Florida for a meeting with Trump last month stemmed from the president-elect’s threat to implement a substantial 25% tariff on all Canadian goods entering the United States. During this encounter, Trump suggested in jest that Canada could potentially become the 51st state.
While Trudeau’s team described Trump’s comment as lighthearted, the Republican former president has continued to capitalize on this narrative, referring to the prime minister on social media as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.”
Having a long-standing career as an entertainer before entering politics, Trump has honed a style that thrives on drawing attention, whether through humor or mockery. His supporters revel in his jabs at opponents, which he masterfully amplifies via social media, enhancing his appeal among a loyal following.
Just last week, Trump publicly mocked Canada on his social media network, posting an AI-generated image of himself with a Canadian flag, captioned with a playful “Oh Canada!”
Following his latest antics, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller expressed his amusement, saying, “It sounds like we’re living in an episode of South Park.”
Earlier this week, Trudeau articulated his approach to dealing with Trump, stating that the former president often employs strategies meant to unsettle negotiating partners, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty. He emphasized the importance of maintaining composure, saying, “one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.”
Even holiday gatherings have not remained untouched by Trump’s brand of provocation. On Thanksgiving Day, he shared a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” superimposing the faces of Biden and other Democrats onto the characters in a playful spoof. This included a moment where Trump humorously burst forth from a turkey, accompanied by vibrant special effects and a dance to the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.”
During his latest campaign, Trump has not shied away from mocking fellow Republican Ron DeSantis, choosing to call him “Ron DeSanctimonious” rather than his actual name. He also remarked on his social media, “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.”
In his rivalry against Biden, Trump’s derision has extended to various personal attributes of the president, including his intellect and athleticism. Trump even ridiculed Vice President Kamala Harris’s work history as a college student, staging a tongue-in-cheek visit to a Pennsylvania McDonald’s to further his mockery.
According to Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, the former president believes humor will resonate with people: “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person…” he asserted, promoting an optimistic vision moving forward.
While both Biden and Harris have attempted to engage in similar tactics—sharing memes and participating in playful stunts—Canada’s leadership has largely chosen to remain above the fray. Miller commented on the situation, saying, “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy.”
Gerald Butts, a close associate and former adviser to Trudeau, revealed that Trump has often revisited the idea of Canada becoming a U.S. territory during his tenure, noting, “Oh God, at least a half dozen times.” He characterized Trump’s actions as deliberate attempts to instigate anxiety and uncertainty, stating, “He’s trying to destabilize everybody…”
Source
abcnews.go.com