American political commentator Tucker Carlson made a prank call to Canada’s press office, leaving the message that the United States was “coming to liberate Canada” and requesting that the message be passed on to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The call was made ahead of Carlson’s trip to Calgary, Alberta, where he was scheduled to appear with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith at the Telus Convention Center on January 24.
Carlson’s call was met with amusement by his former boss, entrepreneur Elon Musk, who expressed his approval with fire emojis on social media. Carlson also expressed his support for the Freedom Convoy, a group of truckers protesting vaccine mandates along with other grievances, which had become a source of frustration for Trudeau.
However, several months later in November 2023, a petition was launched to try to ban Carlson from entering Canada, which was signed by nearly 4,000 people. The petition cited Carlson’s controversial views and statements on race, immigration, and women’s rights. While Carlson had not been officially banned from Canada at the time of this writing, the petition reflected the growing backlash against his views and behavior.
Despite the controversy, Carlson still appeared at the Telus Convention Center in January 2024, where he gave remarks and engaged in a conversation with local businessmen and Premier Smith. While some protested outside the event, others attended inside, expressing their support for Carlson’s views on free speech, individual liberty, and limited government.
The incident highlighted the tension between the United States and Canada, which had been exacerbated by political and cultural differences over issues such as trade, climate change, and immigration. It also reflected the growing polarization of public discourse in both countries, as well as the power of social media to amplify and shape public opinion.
