‘Canada is a sovereign state’: Trump’s ambassador pick distances himself from annexation talk [Video]

The man with the delicate task of representing U.S. President Donald Trump in Canada has offered an indication of how he plans to go about it. 

Canada, meet good cop.

At his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing for ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra steered clear of annexation talk and saluted the countries’ long-standing partnership.

He was peppered with questions from Democrats about what they described as disrespectful language from Trump that’s poisoned an old alliance.

The president keeps calling for Canada to join the U.S., and in fact did so, again, on Thursday, a timely reminder of the diplomatic reality awaiting Hoekstra. At one point in the confirmation hearing, Trump’s annexation talk came up.

“[His] negotiation tactics have profoundly unsettled our relationship with Canada,” said Democrat Chris Coons, of Delaware.

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