Anthony Scaramucci told Newsmax that President Trump should finalize a stalled trade deal with Canada to ease economic strain in northern states where competitive Republican Senate contests are underway. He argued that resolving the dispute would help prospects in Maine, Michigan and Ohio. The trade fight intensified after talks collapsed in August and prompted retaliatory measures; the administration later announced additional restrictions on Sept. 8. Scaramucci, now a vocal Trump critic, also predicted Republicans would hold the Senate but lose the House.
Scaramucci Urges Trump To Finalize Canada Trade Deal To Bolster GOP in Maine, Michigan and Ohio
(Richard Drew/Associated Press)
Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci told Newsmax that President Donald Trump could strengthen Republican chances in tight Senate contests by completing a trade agreement with Canada. Speaking on the program "Finnerty," Scaramucci said stalled negotiations are placing avoidable economic pressure on northern states where GOP Senate races are competitive.
"He had a deal in place with Canada," Scaramucci said, adding that talks later stalled. "I would suggest to you that he's putting undue pressure on those northern states that would include Maine, Ohio, and Michigan." He urged the president to finalize an agreement to remove trade uncertainty affecting those states.
On the campaign front: Republicans are defending Senate seats in Maine and Ohio and are trying to capture an open seat in Michigan. The interview named Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) as seeking reelection and cited competitive matchups in Ohio and Michigan, also noting that former Rep. Mike Rogers is the Republican nominee in Michigan.
The trade dispute intensified after U.S.-Canada negotiations reportedly broke down in August. Canada responded to new U.S. tariffs with countermeasures, while the U.S. administration said Ottawa walked away from a near-final agreement and continued to treat some American exports unfavorably. On Sept. 8, the president ordered additional measures against certain Canadian goods, including import restrictions scheduled to take effect shortly afterward.
Administration officials said the actions were intended to protect U.S. farmers, manufacturers and workers and to counter Canadian trade barriers. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told reporters that the administration did not see an urgent need to reach an agreement even as the dispute continued.
Scaramucci, who remains a registered Republican but has become an outspoken critic of Mr. Trump, also shared his midterm outlook. He predicted Republicans would retain control of the Senate while losing the House, though he acknowledged this assessment could change before Election Day.
On a separate matter, host Rob Finnerty pressed Scaramucci about a recent tongue-in-cheek remark in which Scaramucci referred to White House aide Natalie Harp as the president's "girlfriend." Scaramucci clarified on-air: "I am not implying that Natalie Harp has a romantic relationship with President Trump."
Reporting contributed by Reuters.
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