Trump Misses the Mark on Crimea
In an off-the-cuff comment, former U.S. President Donald Trump wrongly claimed that Justin Trudeau was responsible for Russia being kicked out of the G8, an action he implied triggered the annexation of Crimea and the broader Ukraine conflict. That’s simply not accurate.
Russia was removed from the G8 in 2014—when Stephen Harper was Canada’s Prime Minister and Barack Obama was President of the United States. Trudeau wasn’t even in office yet. This fundamental error reveals more about Trump’s casual approach to foreign policy details than it does about Canada’s historical role.
The Group of Eight (G8) was an intergovernmental political forum from 1997 to 2014, formed by incorporating Russia into the G7. The G8 became the G7 again after Russia was expelled in 2014 after the Russian annexation of Crimea.
The Real Timeline: Crimea and the Obama Era
The annexation of Crimea by Russia occurred in 2014. At that time, the U.S. was under the leadership of Barack Obama—whose foreign policy decisions arguably empowered geopolitical instability. Obama’s administration not only oversaw the breakdown of relations with Russia but also poured billions into Iran, indirectly fueling proxies like Hezbollah and even the rise of ISIS.
Justin Trudeau became Prime minister of Canada in 2015, most Canadians on the Liberty Right remember this.
The Group of Eight in 2014
- Canada: Prime Minister Stephen Harper
- France: President François Hollande
- Germany: Chancellor Angela Merkel
- Italy: Prime Minister Matteo Renzi
- Japan: Prime Minister Shinzō Abe
- Russia: President Vladimir Putin
- United Kingdom: Prime Minister David Cameron
- United States of America: President Barack Obama
To Trump’s credit, his administration took a much tougher stance globally, which many believe led to a noticeable de-escalation in major international conflicts. Ironically, when Joe Biden—Obama’s former Vice President—returned to power, many of those same international conflicts reignited.
Let’s Not Rewrite History: Trudeau Wasn’t In Office
Though I’m no fan of Justin Trudeau or the Liberal Party, the truth is the truth: Trudeau wasn’t even Prime Minister in 2014. Canada’s response to Russia at that time was shaped by then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a Conservative, who aligned closely with the United States on many foreign policy issues—including supporting U.S. involvement in Iraq.
While I personally voted for Harper—even in 2015—I’m not about to rewrite history to serve a political narrative. Harper was not a radical reformer on foreign policy or energy exports. He was, however, a steady hand on finances and a defender of freedom of speech, which is why I supported him.
Carney, Freedom of Speech, and the New Liberal Agenda
With Mark Carney now at the helm of the Liberal Party, we’re already seeing early signs of an attack on free speech in Canada. And unlike Harper, who at least valued Canadian sovereignty in public discourse, Carney appears ready to toe the line of globalist ideology, no matter the cost to civil liberties.
That matters, because freedom of speech—not economic management—is now the front line in this cultural and political battle.
Trump’s Oversight Should Concern Canadians
Trump’s mistake isn’t just an amusing gaffe—it’s an indicator. His assumption that Trudeau was already in power in 2014 suggests that Canada is a low priority in his strategic calculus, especially when it comes to future trade negotiations. If Trump didn’t even take the time to confirm who was Prime Minister during a major international event, what does that say about how much he values our relationship?
From Trump’s point of view, Canadians re-elected Trudeau after a disastrous term—so maybe, in his mind, we’re not worth the research. And honestly, given how our country continues to vote, I can understand the sentiment.
Final Thought
Donald Trump may not know who Stephen Harper is. He might know now, after public correction, but this isn’t just about names. It’s about priorities. If Canada wants to matter in the next round of global negotiations, it has to start acting like it—and that begins with owning the truth of our own recent history.
Let’s stop pretending Trudeau was responsible for everything. The truth is, the Crimea situation began under Harper and Obama—and misattributing that won’t change history, nor will it earn us respect in future diplomatic talks.
