You Don’t Learn a Man by His Speeches. You Learn Him by His Heroes.
Power leaves fingerprints. Pay attention to who he salutes.
Here’s something I’ve learned after seven decades of watching politicians come and go…
Forget the slogans.
Forget the flag pins.
Forget the “I love the people” speeches.
Watch who a leader respects.
That’s the tell.
Because admiration is confession.
And when I look south of the border at Donald Trump, the pattern isn’t subtle.
He doesn’t gush over teachers, nurses, or small-town mayors.
He lights up around strongmen.
He praises Vladimir Putin.
Sends love letters to Kim Jong-un.
Compliments Xi Jinping for “control.”
Not democracy.
Control.
Not accountability.
Loyalty.
The kind you get when people are afraid.
That’s not leadership.
That’s a mob boss résumé.
Here’s the part Canadians need to understand…
This isn’t personality fluff.
It’s policy.
A man who respects dictators doesn’t suddenly become gentle with allies.
He doesn’t treat partners with fairness.
He treats countries the way a landlord treats tenants…
Pay up.
Shut up.
Or get out.
You’ve already seen it.
Tariffs as punishment.
Threats dressed up as negotiations.
Canada talked about like we’re a spare bedroom.
That’s not diplomacy.
That’s dominance thinking.
Think of it like this…
If a neighbour keeps praising burglars and laughing at homeowners…
don’t be shocked when he starts checking your locks.
And the other piece people miss?
Authoritarian thinking spreads.
When leaders mock compassion, people start mocking compassion.
When cruelty gets applause, cruelty multiplies.
History shows this over and over.
It never starts with tanks.
It starts with normalization.
“Ah, he’s just joking.”
“Ah, that’s just his style.”
“Ah, it’s not that bad.”
That’s how the guardrails quietly disappear.
So no… this isn’t about gossip or White House décor or whatever shiny object the day throws at us.
It’s simpler than that.
Watch the respect.
Who does he admire?
Who does he defend?
Who does he attack?
That tells you exactly who he serves.
And it ain’t regular folks trying to pay their mortgage.
For us Canadians?
Lesson’s clear.
Stop assuming the U.S. presidency automatically means “friendly neighbour.”
Sometimes it means “guy eyeing your backyard.”
So we stay sharp.
We diversify trade.
We buy smart.
We protect our own house.
Polite doesn’t mean naïve.
Because at my age, I’ve seen enough cycles to know…
When someone shows you who they are…
believe them the first time.
Source credit…
Background reporting and commentary inspired by analysis from independent creator Heather Delaney Reese.
Canada Strong Movement… House Rule & Disclosure
Canada Strong exists to defend Canadian sovereignty, democratic norms, and economic independence… without imported talking points or borrowed outrage.
House rule… Facts and good-faith discussion are welcome. I use AI tools to help turn my spoken drafts into clear writing. I’m 73, my hands shake, and I type with two fingers… so I speak first, then edit.
The ideas, positions, and final message are mine.
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Another moment where I shall need to keep my thoughts to myself about that man as I have nothing nice to say.