The U.S. ambassador to Canada says his country needs their “allies on board” to counter terrorist threats that target Western democracies’ way of life.
Pete Hoekstra was in Gander, N.L., on Friday to attend a memorial marking the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on New York City. The people of Gander took in stranded passengers diverted to the province after the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon disrupted air travel.
“We appreciate Canada’s support, their friendship, and the contributions they made that day and for the years since,” Hoekstra told Global News in an interview.
“(The attacks are) the kind of threat we face today that we need all of our allies on board. Not on board America’s strategy, but on board a strategy that says this is an evil that threatens each of our countries … It is a threat, we need to confront it.”
Hoekstra’s tenure as ambassador has not been particularly known for showing U.S. appreciation for Canadian support and friendship.
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Instead, it’s been marked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of annexation, snide comments from his cabinet about the Canadian military, and Trump’s ongoing trade war hitting businesses and workers on both sides of the border.
Hoekstra himself has engaged in the cross-border sniping, recently reposting an image on social media with Lake Ontario “renamed” Lake America. He’s previously shared other social media posts promoting Trump’s threats at making Canada the “51st state.”
As of Friday, more than 269,000 people have signed a House of Commons petition to declare Hoekstra a persona non grata in Canada and expel him.
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But Hoekstra told Global News he wasn’t interested in discussing bilateral relations Friday.
“I don’t really want to get into it in any kind of depth today, in that the focus is on 9/11. In terms of respect, both ways, that’s an issue that I think we can talk about in the future, and I’d be willing to,” Hoekstra said.
Nearly 7,000 travellers were stranded in the town of Gander and surrounding areas after planes were diverted on Sept. 11, 2001. The story spawned the hit Broadway musical Come From Away, which highlights the town’s kindness and hospitality in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
SEND HOEKSTRA HOME. FLUSH THE GOBLIN 👺
F*CK the USA.
I don’t want Canada to help the USA in any way anymore. They are the enemy.
Then start treating them as such.This Guy is a total Yank Wank !
Hoekstra the Jokestra can eat Canadian c*ck. Go f*ck yurself you commie p*g.
The entire POS administration can suck a bag of dicks.
Signed,
CANADA
The biggest threat to Western Democracy in Donald Trump and his enablers.
What allies, Pete?!? Your country has threatened, insulted and alienated them all. We consider the US to be in the same category as Russia, but with less intelligent leadership.
Shut the f up.. after all the lies and nasty insulting stuff you repeat over and over? I cannot believe they even let you show up. Shameful unethical crook. Not remotely an ambassador.
The US no longer has any allies!
I can’t say what I want to say because it would violate the commenting policy. IYKYK
Scared the Iranians are going after you now and want help. Go home Pete you Punk
Hit us with unjustified tariffs, troll us, issue negative comments ? Now you want our help to support a barely democratic country ? Canada has always defended against such evil. Your “sincerity” is a thin veneer Hoekstra. Few, if any, Canadians have you in good regard. Until you are persona non grata, you will only be tolerated. Your departure cannot come soon enough.
Hogstra looks like he gobbled many, many donkey dcks
The USA is the biggest terrorist threat to Canada. Now they are ssking for our help to defend them against terrorism. We’ve helped before and this the thanks we have gotten.Go to hell Hoekstra
Translation: We want you to help do Israel’s bidding. No thanks bud.
Trump is bribing voters with their own money to vote for his gang in the midterms…I will give Trump $5000 to resign from office and go away and take his entire grifting family AND Hoekstra, Greer, Hegseth, Pirro, Bessent, Lutnick and all the other psycho-fants with him.
It seems Hoekstra is referring to Russia and North Korea as the US allies. Perhaps he’d prefer being the ambassador to one of them.
What allies? I think he’s got Russia and maybe north korea at this point?
… you mean like the ones spouted by your orange friend, Pete?
I guess he forgot Trump has crapped on all the American allies. And has lost all his friends
Then act like an ally instead of the enemy pete!
I can guarantee that nobody was thinking “Oh, let’s help them because they’re USA’ians”.
And if something like 9/11 happened tomorrow, Canada would help the US as we always do of course, in spite of Trump and his cabinet’s nonsense. That being said, it is much easier to get your allies to help you when you treat them with respect, and don’t go around hurling insults and threats like a grade school bully. 51st state? HELL NO! 1st in line to assist in times of crisis? Always!
Anonymous. The bsmt warrior on the keyboard…..village idiot and loser…..
Allies? I assume you don’t mean Canada, since your president has said several time that the US doesn’t need anything from Canada…
Anonymous ! The village idiot…speaks…..loser
But, Pete…you’ve alienated all your allies. Your Administration is the world’s biggest joke, and no one would even cross the street to spit on you now. When the Orange Maniac is gone, MAYBE. Until then, go take a flying screw.
The only country trying to ruin our way of life is the U.S. !
Feck off!
pretty sure they are running out of allies – time to go home
269,465
Kick rocks Pete
The U S attacked Iran, get you facts straight
They wired the towers with nanothermite because asbestos remediation was too costly and to hide evidence of corruption and insider trading.
Earth to Pete. You have no allies you MORON.
” says his country needs their “allies on board” to counter terrorist threats that target Western democracies’ way of life.” The only ones who are threatening Western democracies’ way of life is the USA. 51st state threats against Canada and attacking Venezuela for oil is attacking democracies.
“We appreciate Canada’s support, their friendship, and the contributions they made that day and for the years since,” It sure doesn’t show from what he and Trump actually say and do. You can’t trust the present American government to tell the truth.
If Pete wants to protect Canada against terrorists he needs to get rid of his own boss.
HE’S AS HELPFUL TO THE NEGOTIATIONS AS POLIEVRE IS
I’m certain North Korea and Russia will be happy to help them.
Not a chance America is our sworn enemy and we will stand with those looking for soft targets like the “queers for Palestine”. We are a sanctuary country for anyone, no questions asked.
Hoekstra is a goof. Go back to the USA and stay there.
Sorry Pete, Canada stands with communist China now…
The biggest threat to democracy is the US.
America is rabid dog.
Hoakster says a lot of things, 95% of it nonsense.
Don’t bank on any help from Canada
The LPC welcomes those threats with open arms and a fat cheque
I need america to get fucked.