Former President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Scotland from July 25 to July 29, 2025, sparked a diplomatic firestorm after a sharp exchange with King Charles over England’s migration crisis. Trump, while visiting his Turnberry and Aberdeen golf resorts and meeting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, publicly criticized what he called England’s “horrible migration crisis,” claiming it was destabilizing the nation. King Charles, in a rare public rebuke, issued a statement from Balmoral Castle dismissing Trump’s remarks as “reckless and divisive,” defending the UK’s immigration policies and multicultural identity. The insult, delivered during Trump’s high-profile trip that also included trade talks with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, escalated tensions and shifted U.S. focus toward asserting dominance over regional allies, particularly Canada.

The fallout from King Charles’s rebuke has fueled a bold U.S. strategy to pressure Canada, with Trump leveraging increased tariffs and accusations of Canada’s “deep-seated antisemitism” to justify aggressive economic measures. On August 1, 2025, Trump imposed steep tariffs on Canadian exports, citing trade imbalances and alleging Canada’s failure to address antisemitic incidents as a cultural and moral failing. The administration framed these tariffs as retribution, with Trump hinting at further economic penalties if Canada does not align with U.S. interests. This approach has been packaged as part of the “Make America Great Again” agenda, aiming to prioritize U.S. economic dominance and reshape North American relations under the guise of addressing social issues abroad.

The renewed U.S. push to “conquer” Canada economically has raised alarms in Ottawa, especially after King Charles’s May 2025 visit, where he reaffirmed Canadian sovereignty in a Speech from the Throne. Trump’s team has dismissed Canada’s resistance, with advisors suggesting the tariffs could force Canada into a subordinate trade relationship, likened to a “51st state.” The accusations of antisemitism, though vague and unsupported by specific evidence, have been used to rally domestic support for the tariff war, framing Canada as a problematic neighbor. This escalating U.S.-Canada rift, sparked by the Scotland clash, signals a broader strategy to assert American influence, with Trump’s team vowing to reshape the regional economy while sidelining critics like King Charles.