Staff Reports
Kevin O’Leary, the Shark Tank star and self-proclaimed “Mr. Wonderful,” has taken on a surprising role as a diplomatic backroom dealer between Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and President-elect Donald Trump. O’Leary asserts that his recent jaunt to Mar-a-Lago with Smith has secured her a unique position among Canadian politicians—namely, a personal relationship with Trump that no one else in the great white north currently holds. As Canada and the U.S. hang in the balance of potential tariffs and trade negotiations, this could just be the power play Smith needed to turn the tables.
During their sunny discussions, O’Leary pointed out that Alberta is the U.S.’s top trading partner, which should mean something to our southern neighbors—especially since Trump has taken a liking to the idea of slapping a whopping 25% tariff on Canada. In true O’Leary style, it seems he’s suggesting that playing nice with Trump might be the best strategy Alberta can pursue in the face of economic uncertainty. After all, nothing says diplomacy quite like a round of golf and some delicious Trump Burgers.
O’Leary didn’t shy away from giving some unsolicited advice either—he practically begged Trump to sever communications with Justin Trudeau, the outgoing Canadian Prime Minister. With Canada poised for a leadership shake-up, O’Leary believes the best approach to negotiations is a bit of waiting and seeing. He thinks that just like in the U.S. elections, a so-called “red wave” is brewing in Canada, and it might be wise for Trump to hold off on any tariff decisions until the political waters are clearer up north.
Kevin O’Leary helped Canadian official achieve ‘personal relationship’ with Trump https://t.co/1D1XTkbtxG
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 15, 2025
The timing couldn’t be better; as Trump is gearing up to take the Oval Office once again, O’Leary insists that building this rapport with Alberta’s premier could yield significant dividends down the line. With both Alberta and the U.S. looking for stability in their economic relationship, securing a dialog with Trump couldn’t come at a better time. If O’Leary’s endeavors pay off, it could set Alberta apart in a way that has yet to be seen among its Canadian counterparts.
As Trump prepares for his inauguration, it’s refreshing to see a Canadian leader so eager to align herself with an American president who isn’t afraid to shake things up. While some Canadian CEOs are gearing up to roll out their own tariffs in response to Trump’s threats, it sounds as if Smith and O’Leary are conjuring plans to keep Alberta competitive on an international scale. With a little luck, and perhaps some luckier rounds of golf, this could very well evolve into a golden era of trade for Alberta—if only every politician were so “wonderful.”
