Is Donald Trump kidding? Americans in Canada react to tariff, annexation threats

While Donald Trump's comments on tariffs and Canada becoming 'the 51st state' have drawn anger and fear among Canadians, reaction from Americans who live, study or work in Canada has been mixed, and is largely influenced by how they voted in the presidential election.

Incoming U.S. president Donald Trump has been courting controversy in Canada since his election victory, with threats to impose whopping tariffs on Canadian goods and musings about the country becoming "the 51st state."

While Trump's comments have drawn anger and fear among Canadians, reaction from Americans who live, study or work in Canada has been mixed -- and largely influenced by how they voted in the presidential election.

Jacob Wesoky, the executive vice-chair of Democrats Abroad Canada who is studying political science at McGill University in Montreal, said he is "extremely" disappointed by the president-elect's approach to his country's "closest" ally.

"As an American living in Canada, it is really sad to watch," said Wesoky, who voted for Trump's rival Kamala Harris.

But Canadian American Georganne Burke, a staunch Trump supporter, said that while the incoming president may be "a bit of a troll," she doesn't see his actions as harmful to Canada.

"He's not asking for anything unreasonable," she said.

Trump's first shot at Canada came in November, when he said he would impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican imports as soon as he returns to the White House on Jan. 20 -- unless the two countries improve security along their borders with the U.S.