Donald Trump has provided a bizarre response to the impact his newly-imposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico will have on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
President Trump's presidency so far has been dominated by executive orders, with the 47th POTUS signing off countless tariffs since returning to the White House.
The tariffs have been introduced to tackle what the White House has described as an 'extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl'.
Countries such as Canada and Mexico have felt the brunt of Trump's tariffs, creating somewhat of a trade war between the nations.
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Meanwhile, Canada is imposing 25 percent tariffs on CA $155 billion of US goods, while Mexico is planning to take similar steps.
Amid the tensions between leaders, the US, Canada, and Mexico are planning to jointly host the 2026 World Cup.
And Trump announced on Friday (March 7) that he is creating a task force to prepare for the summer soccer tournament.
The task force has been set up to oversee logistics and security for the massive sporting event next year, with Trump heading up and vice president JD Vance assisting.
"This order underscores President Trump’s commitment to showcasing national pride, hospitality, and economic opportunity through sports tourism," the White House said in a press release.
Trump was asked by reporters about hosting the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico with whom they are locked in a trade war, and the president's response was certainly an interesting one.
"I think it's going to make it more exciting," he said. "Tension's a good thing."
Eleven cities in the US will host games for the tournament. They are: Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Also on Friday, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Canada has been 'ripping us off for years' and is now considering hitting back with a tariff 10 times harsher than the 25 percent already placed on Canadian products.
It came just a day after offering a one-month reprieve on the initial tax of imported goods.
Speaking of the changes that have been made to the markets after signing off the orders, Trump said: "I’m not even looking at the market.
"A lot of them are globalist … companies that won’t be doing as well because we’re taking back things that have been taken from us years ago. We’ve been treated very unfairly."
Topics: Donald Trump, Canada, Mexico, Football
Callum Jones