With the Quebec provincial election drawing near, U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed allegations of him interfering with French-speaking Canadians as “absurd,” as stated on his Truth Social account on Tuesday morning.
The president addressed concerns raised during the breakdown of recent trade talks between the U.S. and Canada, citing Prime Minister Mark Carney’s remarks about potential threats to the French language due to proposed changes affecting French-language media subsidies and bilingual product labeling requirements.
During an event in Lévis, Que., Carney emphasized that American negotiators found the discoverability of French-Canadian content on streaming platforms to be a contentious issue, even though Quebec’s existing laws facilitate easy access to such content.
In response to Trump’s denial of interference, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly underlined the importance of national sovereignty and values, stating, “The focus should be on our principles, not just affection for French Canadians.”
Last year, Quebec passed Bill 109, aiming to bolster the province’s cultural sovereignty and ensure the accessibility of French-language content on digital platforms, a move that became law in December 2025.
Additionally, Quebec enforces strict regulations on product labeling, including translation into French, under Bill 96, which was flagged by the U.S. government as a trade concern in early 2025.