【By Observer News, Xiong Chaoran】Amid the accelerating evolution of a once-in-a-century global transformation, many in the West still find themselves in confusion, while some seem to have begun "looking at the world with open eyes."

Reuters reported on January 22 local time that, during the recent Davos event in Switzerland, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau publicly condemned major powers for using economic integration as a weapon and tariffs as a bargaining chip, which earned him a rare standing ovation. He called on countries to accept the reality that the "rules-based international order" has ended, and used Canada as an example, pointing out how "middle powers" can act together to avoid becoming victims of American hegemony.

For this, former U.S. President Trump naturally harbored resentment. Subsequently, he retaliated against Trudeau, boasting that "Canada should be grateful to the United States, because it exists because of the United States." In addition, Trump not only posted AI images of Canada and Greenland covered by the American flag on social media, but also announced the withdrawal of his invitation for Trudeau to join the "Peace Committee."

Reuters noted that Trudeau's speech at Davos was well received, marking a successful conclusion to his significant overseas visit. Last week, he reached a trade agreement with China and sought new partnerships in the Middle East, aiming to reduce Canada's excessive dependence on the U.S. economy.

"Trump's comments have sparked support for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau among Canadians," the article's title read. "Canadians may feel proud, but also somewhat worried, because our prime minister is so outspoken," said Laura Stephenson, a professor of political science at the University of Western Ontario: "Trudeau's openness in expressing these views shows his courage, and his speech has received widespread positive feedback globally, which will also make Canadians proud."

Trudeau's Davos Speech: The Old Order Based on Rules Will Be Gone Forever, Screenshot of Video

According to the Canadian Prime Minister's office, the speech given by Trudeau at the World Economic Forum was written by himself. Stephenson said that although the reaction of Canadians might vary depending on whether their jobs are related to Canada-U.S. trade, the speech undoubtedly resonated with them.

"If you are directly affected by the Canada-US-Mexico Trade Agreement (CUSMA), you might feel very anxious and fearful about what could happen next," Stephenson referred to, which is the trade agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico, set to be reviewed this year.

Although his words were strong, Trudeau has yet to reach a trade agreement with the United States, and later softened his "tough" stance — for example, he abandoned the digital services tax to restart trade negotiations with the U.S., and apologized for a Canadian ad that had angered Trump.

In the snow-covered streets of Toronto, retired race walker Ann Peel said that Trump's escalating threats of annexing Canada made her deeply concerned about the possibility of an American invasion. She described Trump as "a big bully" and believed that Trudeau's speech was powerful because it expressed a worldview fundamentally different from that of the United States. "We value our values very much," she said: "As a nation, Canadians are proud, and we won't just yield simply because the U.S. wants something."

Soon after Trump returned to the White House, he began threatening to turn Canada into the "51st state." Since then, Canadians have significantly reduced travel to the U.S., boycotted American alcoholic products, and prioritized purchasing Canadian goods.

Jonathan Kalles, a former senior advisor to former Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, revealed that Trudeau's speech received support from all political parties in the country, including some conservative figures, which impressed him greatly.

Most public opinion surveys show that since taking office in April last year, Trudeau's approval rating has remained above 50%. According to the latest data from Nanos Research, a Canadian public opinion and research company, Trudeau leads Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre by as much as 22 percentage points.

In fact, the so-called "help" from Trump's threats to Canadian sovereignty helped Trudeau's Liberal Party overturn a previous lead of nearly 30 percentage points held by the Conservatives, ultimately winning the federal election last year.

James Moore, who served as Canada's Industry Minister during the tenure of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, posted a clip of Trudeau's speech on the social media platform X, and called on people: "Today, put down your party swords, take some time to listen to this speech."

Michelle Rempel Garner, a Conservative MP from Alberta, wrote in Canada's National Post that Trudeau's speech "correctly pointed out the harsh realities of a broken geopolitical system and the urgent need for middle powers like Canada to step forward with determination and pragmatism." She also called on Trudeau to fulfill his promises through concrete actions.

Jack Cunningham, a professor of international relations at the University of Toronto, said that the strong reaction of Canadians to Trudeau's speech was partly due to his bold response to Trump, and that he seemed to still earn Trump's respect.

June 16, 2025, Kananauskis, Canada, G7 Summit, U.S. President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau hold a bilateral meeting. IC Photo

On January 20 local time, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, speaking at the Davos Forum, stated that the current era is one of intense great power competition, and the rules-based international order is gradually collapsing, resulting in a situation where "the strong do as they please, and the weak submit without resistance."

Trudeau pointed out that if countries want to survive, they should no longer compromise unconditionally with Trump for the sake of maintaining superficial relationships. "Middle powers must act together, because if we cannot participate in decision-making, we will only become victims."

His speech received widespread praise from European politicians, with one member of parliament describing it as the "most influential" speech delivered by a Canadian prime minister since World War II.

The next day, Trump gave a speech, responding strongly to Trudeau. He said that Canada had "received a lot of free benefits" from the United States.

"They [Canada] should be grateful to us. Canada exists because of the United States," Trump said: "Justin, remember this the next time you make such statements."

On January 22 local time, after concluding his trip to Davos, Trudeau responded, stating that Canada's survival does not depend on the United States, and that Canadians are "masters of their own country." He also said that Canada "must become a lighthouse, setting an example for a confused world."

After being confronted by Trudeau, Trump subsequently announced the withdrawal of his invitation for Trudeau to join the "Peace Committee."

Reuters reported that the Trudeau office stated last week that he had received an invitation to join the committee and planned to accept it. Regarding Trump's so-called "withdrawal," neither the Trudeau office nor the White House immediately responded to Reuters' request for comment.

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Original: toutiao.com/article/7598513657542083118/

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