Trump likely ‘taking names’ on Biden congrats: expert

The current president of the United States has warranted nary a mention from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau since Democrat Joe Biden became president-elect on Saturday.

While that might be setting Trudeau and Canada up for some retaliatory pain from Donald Trump, analysts are divided on how much misery even a very vindictive lameduck president could inflict on his closest neighbour.

On Monday, Trudeau became the first international leader to speak to Biden, following his swift congratulations to the former American vice-president and his running mate Kamala Harris on Saturday.

The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement congratulating Biden within 45 minutes of multiple news outlets having called the Democrat’s pivotal victory in Pennsylvania.

Bessma Momani, an international affairs expert at the University of Waterloo, says Trump is likely keeping track of who is congratulating Biden.

She said there is no ruling out that Trump could find a way to retaliate against Canada in his remaining time in the Oval Office.

“Certainly, if one looks at why the Chinese have still held out on congratulating Trump, there is fear that Trump could be punitive on trade or other matters for those who are seen to side with Biden in the legal battle Trump has undertaken,” aid Momani.

“One should not doubt that Trump is taking names and personalizing the congratulatory good wishes to Biden.”

Trump has refused to concede defeat and is threatening legal action, claiming without evidence that he was cheated out of victory. His top diplomat, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, told reporters Tuesday he expects a “smooth transition to a second Trump administration.”

Trump imposed punitive tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum in 2018 using a seldom-used section of U.S. trade law that gives the executive branch that power to protect national security.