Who did Elon Musk vote for today?

It’s not easy to lose a Canadian election when you’re an American politician. But that’s exactly what Donald Trump managed to do Monday night.

It’s not easy to lose a Canadian election when you’re an American politician. But that’s exactly what Donald Trump managed to do Monday night.

Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party, had been on track to take over as Canada’s next prime minister. His party led by more than 20 points in polls. The incumbent Liberal Party was unpopular.

Then Donald Trump got out his blowhorn and changed everything. Pundits and polls cited as voters’ top concern which party would best stand up to the U.S. president.

In normal times, as Americans do, Canadians decide their votes on domestic concerns like the economy. In normal times, even the junkiest of American political junkies don’t give a hoot about Canada’s elections. But in normal times, both our countries could take our friendship as a given.

Not anymore. “The old relationship we had with the United States…,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared, “is over.”

It was the breakup heard around the world. It sucks, and Donald Trump sucks for causing it. Most Americans agree with me, opposing Donald Trump’s tariffs and his “51st state” garbage. It probably goes without saying, but Canadians agreed too.

Carney’s Liberal Party will lead Canada’s next government, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation projected, calling it one of the most dramatic reversals of political fortune in history.

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Here are some of my takes as an American political operative:

*Justin Trudeau, the former prime minister who had become very unpopular, was wise to step down as prime minister well before the election. His party’s candidates went to the polls without him being a drag on their chances.

*Mark Carney, who replaced Trudeau, gives off confidence in media appearances. Canadian voters have witnessed Carney representing their voices as a sovereign and proud people, pushing back strongly against Trump’s crude aggression. Pierre Poilievre could only audition for the part, a big disadvantage.

*Even if the Conservative Party had pulled off a victory, it would have been no victory for Trump. Both Carney and Poilievre campaigned against him though Poilievre would have been wise to do so with more gusto.

*Both Americans and Canadians lost in the breakup of U.S.-Canadian relations. A big winner in this breakup was Vladimir Putin, especially given his ambition in the Arctic.

*This was interesting: Poilievre, according to Mercedes Stephenson, Global News’ Ottawa bureau chief, only allowed the press four questions per day with no follow-ups. Stephenson and other Canadian journalists cited it as another example of Poilievre coming off like Trump.

*Here’s a question: Who did Elon Musk vote for today? Elon is a Canadian citizen. Who did he vote for? Did he not vote, why? Did Wisconsin voters do us all the enormous favor of shutting Elon up about elections?