Cramer: Trump Ally, Canada Trade Champion

0:00Senator Kevin Kramer from North Dakota stands out as a die-hard Trump supporter, who's quietly championing stronger ties with Canada. This 65-year-old Republican endorsed Trump early back in 2016, even helped craft his energy platform and picks up the phone to chat with him regularly. But Kramer just pushed a Senate resolution praising the deep economic and security partnership between the U.S. and Canada, calling it mutually. An official for both nations' prosperity. His push comes straight from North Dakota's heavy reliance on cross-border trade. The state ships $4 billion to $6 billion worth of oil, farm gear, and crops to Canada each year. That's 70-80% of all its exports. Kramer grew up zipping across the border to Manitoba, like it was no big deal with family in British Columbia, so he seized the neighbors as practically. Ken, especially provinces like Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta, folks close to the issue are noticing.

1:00Former Canadian ambassador Kirsten Hillman calls Kramer a true friend, who's made points to Trump that actually land, even flying a special U.S. flag. Over the capital as a goodbye gift for her. Political watchers say his conservative creds, opposing abortion, pushing oil production, give him street cred in his state where Trump's still popular. Helping him buck White House protectionism without backlash. Tensions linger with Trump's tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, autos, and lumber, plus threats of 50% duties and blocking projects like A. New Detroit Windsor Bridge. Kramer admits Trump gripes about Canada's resource access, but keeps advising him to ease up. He's nudge Canada on NATO defense spending too, though he digs the new Prime Minister's finance smarts and promises to hit higher targets. With a fresh review of the North American trade deal underway, Kramer's hoping for tweaks, not a total redo, betting his insider status keeps the economic engine humming across that border.

2:00That's your update from Calgary News today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with the story.