Former Canadian Leader Jokes About Burning Down White House As Tensions With US Rage On

A former Canadian prime minister joked about burning down the White House in response to rising tensions with the U.S.

Jean Chrétien's comment came during a Liberal Party event on March 8, after the election of Mark Carney as the new party leader, the Daily Beast reported.

The former prime minister, reflecting on the historic War of 1812, made light of the conflict when discussing U.S. President Donald Trump's escalating threats toward Canada.

In a lighthearted tone, Chrétien remarked that while Canadian soldiers once set the White House on fire, he was "too old" to repeat such an act.

The comment was met with laughter from the audience. He was quick to clarify that he meant it as a joke, and did not actually mean to incite any violent actions.

This remark was made amid rising tensions stemming from Trump's trade policies, including tariffs and his comments about potentially annexing Canada as the 51st state.

While the Canadian government has not officially commented, Chrétien's remarks have undoubtedly amplified the discourse about the state of U.S.-Canada relations under Trump.