Poilievre Embraces Trump-Style Demagoguery, Threatens to Deport Pro-Palestinian Protesters

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, in a disturbing echo of Donald Trump’s xenophobic playbook, took aim at pro-Palestinian demonstrators during a campaign rally, baselessly accusing them of fueling antisemitism and vowing to deport "foreigners" engaged in what he called "criminal hatemongering." His remarks—a transparent attempt to exploit tensions around the Israel-Gaza war for political gain—signal a dangerous lurch toward authoritarianism in Canadian politics.

Speaking in an Ottawa riding contested by Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, Poilievre pledged to introduce draconian measures targeting protests, including deportations of visa holders who participate in what he smeared as "hate marches." The language was a direct parallel to Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian student protesters in the U.S., underscoring Poilievre’s willingness to mimic the worst instincts of the American far right—despite his past attempts to distance himself from Trump’s extremism.

Poilievre’s inflammatory rhetoric ignores reality: while he claims pro-Palestinian demonstrations have caused a "spike in antisemitism," the vast majority of protests in Canada have been peaceful, with police intervention being the exception, not the rule. His conflation of criticism of Israel’s military actions—which have killed over 35,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children—with "hate crimes" is a cynical ploy to silence dissent and appeal to hardline voters.

The Conservative leader’s outburst came just days after Carney faced backlash from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for acknowledging Canada’s limited arms restrictions on Israel—a modest stance that nonetheless drew fury from the far-right Israeli government. When confronted by a protester accusing Israel of genocide, Carney cautiously called for a ceasefire, a position Netanyahu predictably condemned.

Poilievre, meanwhile, has offered no meaningful critique of Israel’s devastating assault on Gaza, instead choosing to scapegoat protesters exercising their democratic rights. His vow to deport dissenting "foreigners" is particularly grotesque, echoing the nativist rhetoric of Trump and other authoritarian leaders who weaponize immigration and dissent to stoke fear.

Rather than addressing Canada’s real challenges—skyrocketing housing costs, crumbling healthcare, and corporate greed—Poilievre is resorting to divisive fearmongering. His Trumpian turn should alarm Canadians who value civil liberties and reject the politics of demonization.