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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Hillel Italie

Trump called her ‘toxic’ - now she’s writing a whole book about it

Chrystia Freeland, a prominent Canadian government official known for her frequent clashes with Donald Trump, is set to release a new book detailing her country's often tense relationship with the United States.

Simon & Schuster announced on Wednesday that Unreliable Boyfriend, penned by the former Deputy Prime Minister, will be published on Oct. 13.

Freeland stated, "This is a book about power, democracy, and the choices countries make when the old rules no longer seem to apply. As a Canadian negotiating with the United States during years of extraordinary political turbulence, I had a front-row seat to historic change. I wanted to tell the story of what I saw — and what it means for the future."

Before entering politics, Freeland was an accomplished author and journalist, specializing in Russia and Ukraine, with degrees from Harvard University and the University of Oxford.

Following the 2015 elections, she was appointed Minister of International Trade by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and served in various capacities over the subsequent decade.

Her tenure saw direct confrontations with Trump. In 2017, during his first term, she became a target during negotiations for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Trump remarked at the time, "We’re very unhappy with the negotiations and the negotiating style of Canada. We don’t like their representative very much."

Later, in 2024-25, as the president threatened tariffs and suggested Canada become the 51st state, Freeland labeled him an "existential threat."

Freeland applauds Trump after signing a new free trade agreement in Buenos Aires in 2018 (AFP/Getty)
Freeland applauds Trump after signing a new free trade agreement in Buenos Aires in 2018 (AFP/Getty)

Trump, in turn, called her "totally toxic" and a "terrible person."

Freeland’s political path diverged from Trudeau’s in 2024, when she resigned from his cabinet over disagreements regarding how to address Trump. She has since served in Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet and as a special envoy to Ukraine.

This July, she will assume the prestigious role of Warden of Rhodes House and CEO of the Rhodes Trust in Oxford, overseeing the scholarship program she herself benefited from in 1993.

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