Poilievre voices anti-tariff argument, appears on Joe Rogan podcast during U.S. tour
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured on the Joe Rogan podcast. / YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT
During a U.S. tour earlier this month that took him to Michigan, Texas and New York City, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre made an appearance on the popular and controversial Joe Rogan podcast, which the Conservative leader said he used to argue against tariffs and “fight for Canada.”
Speaking outside the New York Stock Exchange, Poilievre said he had a “great conversation” with Rogan. He said he decided to appear on the podcast to fight for Canada because there is no better place to maximize Canada’s leverage as the CUSMA review approaches than by appearing on the biggest podcast in the world.
“One of the biggest leverage points we have to fight for tariff-free trade, to fight for our auto, steel, aluminum and lumber workers is the goodwill of the American people," he said.
“I used the podcast to argue in favour of removing those tariffs not just because it's great for Canadian workers, but also because it will make life more affordable for American consumers,” Poilievre remarked.
Nation of immigrants, nation of laws
During the appearance, Poilievre rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated musings about Canada becoming the 51st state, while describing the Canada-U.S. relationship as a success that should be repaired. He defended Canada’s oil sands from environmental criticism, calling negative portrayals a “disgusting PR campaign.” He also pushed back against concerns about Alberta separatism.
Rogan and Poilievre also touched on immigration, where Poilievre said Canada is “a nation of immigrants, but we’re also a nation of laws.”
The Conservative leader did not directly answer questions about his election loss, instead predicting that his party would “overwhelmingly” win the next election.
Poilievre’s U.S. trip was capped by a Thursday evening address at the Harvard Club in Manhattan, during which he outlined his broader vision for Canada-U.S. relations, arguing that the countries should stop treating each other as economic rivals and instead rebuild a closer partnership rooted in free trade, shared security and continental resource strength.
He said current tensions were real but temporary, and that both countries should strive to repair the relationship and restore reciprocal free trade. He argued that both are misidentifying their primary challenge — authoritarian regimes, particularly China’s growing economic influence.
Poilievre called for concrete steps to repair the trade relationship, including removing U.S. tariffs on Canadian aluminum, autos and lumber, negotiating a new auto pact and reviving the Keystone XL pipeline.
In the fireside chat, he said trade diversification is an additive, not a substitute for the U.S., and argued that Canada’s biggest economic obstacle is domestic barriers stopping projects from being built.
