The Trump effect in global polls

VEN BEFORE HE took office for the second term, Donald Trump openly and frequently mused about annexing Greenland, a Danish-controlled self-governing protectorate.

- ATANU BISWAS

He even suggested that the US annex Greenland by force if needed.

Its impact on Greenland's March elections was intriguing. Elections were won by a centrist party that favours gradual independence from Denmark, which many voters appeared to think would best position Greenland to resist Trump. Jens Frederik Nielsen, the party leader, has publicly and frequently attacked the US president, claiming that he poses "a threat" to their "political independence".

With Canada's vote in April, a similar Trump effect was observed. The US president was clearly a deciding factor in the just-concluded Canadian election too. Trump advocated for Canada's annexation as the 51st state of the US before taking office this year. In fact, Trump has seriously hurt the Canadian ego by enforcing high tariffs, referring to Canada as the 51st American state on multiple occasions, and referring to Justin Trudeau, the then-Prime Minister of Canada, as "Governor Trudeau". In effect, this has inflamed and strengthened Canadian nationalism. While Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and his party suffered for their inability to disassociate themselves from Trump's shadow, incumbent PM Mark Carney was able to successfully position himself (and his Liberal Party) as the defender of Canadian nationalism and as being anti-Trump, capable of facing down the powerful Don across the southern border. Poilievre was characterized as a Trump ally and a Trump-like figure amid a strong nationalist sentiment among voters.