Mark Carney’s Liberals Win Canadian Election Amid Trump-Induced Nationalist Surge
TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberal Party have secured victory in Canada’s federal election, completing a dramatic political comeback fueled by escalating tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump.
As polls closed Monday evening, projections indicated the Liberals would win the most seats in Parliament’s 343-seat House of Commons. However, it remained unclear whether they would achieve an outright majority — requiring at least 172 seats — or need to form a minority government in partnership with smaller parties.
The election outcome marked a stunning reversal for the Liberals, who were facing a likely defeat until President Trump launched a series of provocative attacks on Canada’s economy and sovereignty, even suggesting the country should become America’s 51st state. Trump’s rhetoric sparked widespread outrage across Canada, igniting a surge of nationalism that propelled Carney and the Liberals to a fourth consecutive term.
Speaking to a jubilant crowd at Liberal headquarters in Ottawa, Carney emphasized the need for national unity in the face of external threats, warning that the longstanding Canada-U.S. relationship — built on decades of mutual respect — had fundamentally shifted.
“We have moved past the shock of America’s betrayal, but we must never forget the lessons learned,” Carney said.
“As I have warned for months, America wants our land, our resources, our water — our country,” he continued. “These are not idle threats. President Trump seeks to break us so that America can own us. That will never — that will never, ever happen. But we must recognize that the world we knew has changed.”
A Crushing Blow for Conservatives
The election result dealt a heavy blow to the Conservative Party and its leader, Pierre Poilievre, who had sought to make the contest a referendum on former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau’s decade in power ended amid growing voter frustration over rising food and housing costs.
However, the dynamics of the race shifted dramatically after Trump’s interventions. Trudeau resigned, clearing the way for Carney — a former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor — to step in as Liberal leader and prime minister. His leadership, combined with the galvanizing effect of Trump’s provocations, rallied Canadians behind the Liberals at a critical moment.
The New Democratic Party, led by Jagmeet Singh, and the Bloc Québécois under Yves-François Blanchet also played significant roles in shaping the final makeup of Parliament. But it was the Liberals’ ability to channel widespread nationalist sentiment that ultimately defined the 2025 election.
