A reporter’s question about whether the United States might invade Canada drew a mix of laughter and irritation from a top U.S. military officer during a press conference in Victoria, British Columbia, this week.
Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, head of U.S. Pacific Command, was appearing alongside Canada’s chief of the defense staff, General Jennie Carignan, at the 28th Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference when Ben O’Hara-Byrne, a reporter with Canada’s Global News, put the question to him directly.
“So this is a question that is asked with all due respect. With all due respect, under what circumstances would you obey an order to launch military action against Canada?” O’Hara-Byrne asked.
“I find that scenario to be absolutely and utterly preposterous. And so I follow the orders of the commander-in-chief, but that is a needlessly emotional question. I don’t find… forgive me for saying it too, and Canada is a close ally,” Paparo replied, visibly suppressing a laugh.
When the reporter pressed that he had not answered the question, Paparo said, “I said I follow the orders of the president and I find it to be a… Would you ask me, please, also, what my attack plans are for the Martians?”
O’Hara-Byrne pushed back, telling Paparo he was belittling a serious question given “threats of annexation” that have circulated in recent months. Paparo replied, “Yes, sir. I don’t dismiss you, but I do dismiss the question.” A moderator then moved on to another reporter.
Context: rising tension over trade and rhetoric
The exchange comes amid months of escalating rhetoric between Washington and Ottawa, including President Trump’s repeated references to Canada potentially becoming the “51st state” and social media posts mocking the country. Trade talks between the two nations broke down recently, with Canada reportedly insisting on serving as a pass-through for Chinese goods such as steel while keeping its own duties on exports to the U.S. in place.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the ongoing war of words in Ottawa, saying, “When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough and start being serious about those discussions, we can have those discussions. But look, it’s not constructive, but that’s their democracy.”
Global News covered the Victoria press conference on its own site but did not report on its reporter’s exchange with Admiral Paparo.
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