Manitoba premier defends 'meme war' as PCs criticize video making fun of Trump

Manitoba's premier is defending his cheeky approach to the Canada-U.S. trade war on social media after the Progressive Conservatives criticized him for making fun of Donald Trump.

Wab Kinew said Thursday that a video he posted on TikTok last week — in which he signed a council order pulling American alcohol off liquor shelves in the province, imitating Trump's regular displays of signing executive orders — is a way to balance the province's response to U.S. protectionist measures while staying true to the "friendly Manitoba" identity.

"Part of this is a meme war, right?" Kinew told Information Radio host Marcy Markusa.

"They're talking down Canada. They're … going after our prime minister. So I would expect that whoever in the White House is doing that is going to have a sense of humour, too. So we can chirp back with things like the executive order video."

LISTEN | Manitoba's premier on the latest in the Canada-U.S. trade war:

Information Radio - MB13:59Tackling tariffs, unity, and tough decisions: A conversation with Premier Wab Kinew

Premier Wab Kinew joins Marcy Markusa for our monthly interview, where they discuss Manitoba’s strategy as tariffs with the U.S. increase and the province faces tough decisions regarding energy exports. The premier also reflects on the search for Morgan Harris’s remains and the question of whether the right decisions were made in the search’s early stages. With rising tensions and critical moments for Manitoba, the premier shares his thoughts on what’s ahead and the need for unity among Manitobans.

On Wednesday, interim Progressive Conservative Leader Wayne Ewasko attacked Kinew for mimicking the U.S. president while getting "no attention" from U.S. decision-makers.

Ewasko used question period to criticize Kinew's approach for not yielding results like those achieved by Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Earlier this week, Ford imposed a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity going to the U.S., though he later suspended it after Trump fired back by threatening to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.

Ford said he'd agreed to the suspension after the U.S. secretary of commerce agreed to a meeting, which is taking place Thursday morning.

N.S. Premier Tim Houston "is advancing interprovincial trade reform, while Doug Ford is getting direct meetings with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick," Ewasko said during question period.

"Manitoba's premier? Well, he's mocking President Trump on his TikTok for social media clicks."

Ewasko also referred to an interview the premier did for an article in the New York Post that described Kinew as an "ex-con rapper-turned-Canadian politician" who was "playing tough guy" in the trade war.

The Opposition is "so tender-footed around offending Mr. President Trump. They can't even bear to offend him," Kinew said during the exchange.

"You know what? We did hang up a massive Canadian flag. It was a thing of beauty — a very beautiful, wonderful, amazing flag that we were all happy to see outside of the building here," he said.

On Thursday, the premier said the gags also help morale by letting Manitobans know "we continue to maintain a good sense of humour."

'We have to be judicious'

But Kinew also said the province needs to know when to change tack and should be strategic when plotting out moves in the trade war with the U.S.

The province is ready to act tougher on the U.S. if President Donald Trump follows through with some upcoming tariff deadlines, but right now, the province is trying to negotiate, Kinew said.

"We have to be strategic and we have to remember that this is a four-year presidency that we're dealing with," he said.

"We definitely have some big 'Trump cards,' if you will, including with Manitoba Hydro … but we have to be judicious when we're thinking about how to play these cards."

He specifically mentioned Hydro contracts with U.S. firms, purchasing of transformers and power line equipment — which Kinew said is worth $35 billion over the next two decades — and surcharges on some energy exports.