U.S. admiral dodges questions about attacking Canada but acknowledges he would follow Trump's orders

A top U.S. admiral says questions about whether he would follow orders to attack Canada are “needlessly emotional” but nonetheless he would follow direction from his commander-in-chief President Donald Trump.

Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Pacific Command, was asked the question Wednesday, Sept. 2 at a major military conference being held in Victoria, B.C. in the midst of deteriorating relations between the two nations.

Trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S. have collapsed, prompting Trump to unleash a series of verbal attacks on Canada, including reviving a threat to annex the country. The White House also posted an image on social media on Aug. 26 showing a bald eagle pinning a Canada goose, a message that suggested American dominance over Canada.

In the last several days U.S. government officials have publicly mocked the Canadian Armed Forces. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy claimed Canada doesn’t have a military. U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth made fun of Canadian army cadets on social media. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insisted his country is “not at war” with Canada, then proceeded to mock the threat Canada could pose to his country with “submarines from the Edmonton mall.”

At the Sept. 2 news conference, Paparo was asked under what circumstances would he obey an order to launch military action against Canada. The admiral said he found that scenario to be “utterly preposterous” and a “needlessly emotional question.” “Canada is a close ally,” he stated.