Manitoba premier calls Trump 'bad person' as Canada weighs trade deal

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has launched a sharp attack on U.S. President Donald Trump, calling him a "bad person" and questioning the wisdom of striking a trade agreement with him. The remarks come as Canada weighs concessions to avoid threatened 50% U.S. tariffs.

Speaking in Winnipeg on Thursday, Kinew said, "You know, very wise people have said 'you can't get a good deal with a bad person.' And I think that rule applies here." He also blamed Trump for high gasoline prices, citing the "misguided war in Iran," and referenced the Epstein files without elaborating.

Despite his criticism, Kinew indicated Manitoba may comply with Prime Minister Mark Carney's request to restore U.S. alcohol sales as part of a "Team Canada" approach. However, he urged consumers to keep buying Canadian products even if American liquor returns to shelves.

"If we put the booze back on the shelves, don't buy it, let it sit on the shelf... and buy the Canadian stuff instead," he said. "We've done an amazing job sticking together in the face of Donald Trump's tariff threats and I think we should continue to do that."

Federal minister Dominic LeBlanc said Thursday that the two countries are "very close" to finalizing an agreement after further talks in Washington. Tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian imports have been postponed until Saturday, and Trump has called the emerging deal "very fair" to both sides.

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham said all premiers agreed during a call with Carney to return U.S. alcohol to store shelves, though not all have publicly confirmed this. Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia premiers have backed the direction of negotiations.

Kinew acknowledged Carney's difficult position, saying, "He's the one who got on the phone with Donald Trump, which I don't think any of us wants to be... Thank you, Mark Carney, for doing it." But he added, "I think for the rest of us, OK."