President Donald Trump mocked transgender people in front of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose child identifies as nonbinary, during an Oval Office meeting in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday that was intended to focus on trade relations but instead became a showcase of Trump’s familiar culture war politics.
The meeting, held in the presence of reporters, aimed to emphasize renewed cooperation between the two countries, which remain deeply economically intertwined. But as The Independent reported, it “devolved into a political rally disguised as a routine press availability.” Trump repeatedly veered off topic to attack Democrats, the media, and transgender people, boasting that under his leadership, “We have strong borders. We have no men in women’s sports. We’re not going to take your child away and change the sex of your child.”
I’m not remotely a fan, but he has done some good things. Recognizing the state of Palestine might not be a game changer, but it’s a good start. The across the board military pay rise was absolutely needed and has done a lot to improve morale and retention in the CAF. The CRA will have automatic tax filing for low-income Canadians from next year onward. We finalised a trade and defence deal with Indonesia, the fifth (I think) most populous country in the world. Most recently, the government has put in a challenge to the supreme court to try to limit the powers of the notwithstanding clause, which if successful could really help to constrain the ways its being abused by people like Ford and Smith (they’re already bitching about this at the top of their lungs, which is all the proof you need that it’s a good thing). Still gonna vote NDP, but I always like to give credit when it’s due.
A lot of those are baby steps so small, it’s frustrating. But I get what you mean. At least it’s in the right direction.