Canadians have delivered a stinging rebuke of Donald Trump’s performance during the first year of his second term, according to a new Angus Reid Institute survey. A staggering 66% of respondents gave the U.S. President an “F” grade, citing a year defined by “51st state” rhetoric, annexation threats, and aggressive tariff hikes. In stark contrast, only 15% of Canadians awarded Trump a top grade, with the majority of his support coming from the Conservative base. The poll found that the prevailing sentiment toward the U.S. administration is one of deep anxiety, with four out of five Canadians (79%) admitting they feel more fearful than hopeful about the year ahead.
While Trump’s standing north of the border has plummeted, Prime Minister Mark Carney has seen a significant surge in domestic support. Following a defiant keynote address at the World Economic Forum in Davos—where he rebuked “unreliable” great powers and championed the strategic autonomy of “middle powers”—Carney’s approval rating jumped eight points to a record high of 60%. The survey indicates that 59% of Canadians believe Carney is managing the volatile relationship with the White House effectively, effectively positioning himself as a steady hand against American unilateralism.
The poll also highlighted significant Canadian opposition to recent U.S. military actions in Venezuela. Over half of Canadians (53%) oppose the U.S. capture of President Nicolás Maduro, and 47% believe that direct U.S. control over Venezuelan oil reserves poses a direct threat to Canada’s energy sector. Concerns are mounting that the U.S. could use Venezuelan heavy crude to undercut Canadian oil prices or reduce its dependence on Canadian exports, weakening Canada’s leverage in ongoing trade negotiations. As 2026 begins, Canadians appear increasingly wary of U.S. interventionism, with 74% expecting more regime-change operations to follow in the future.
