U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra expressed his displeasure with Canadians labeling President Donald Trump as "uninformed" during a forum in Banff, Alberta, on Thursday. Speaking at the Global Business Forum, a private event for business leaders, Hoekstra stated that he found such comments offensive.

During the discussion, moderated by former Canadian diplomat Colin Robertson, Hoekstra asserted that Trump is "extremely well informed." He emphasized that while people may disagree with the president's statements, it is inappropriate to describe him as uninformed. "You don’t hear Americans talk about our disagreements with Canadian politicians, saying they’re just uninformed," he said.

Robertson pointed out that Trump has made comments suggesting Canada lacks resources that the U.S. might want, citing potash as an example. In response, Hoekstra reiterated his offense at Canadians calling Trump uninformed or untrustworthy.

When asked about Canadians' feelings regarding Trump's comments about Canada becoming the "51st state," Hoekstra stated, "My direction from the president is very, very clear: prosperity, safety and security." He added that the U.S. embassy is open to discussing business opportunities with Canadians, but he did not have time to address the 51st state comments.

Hoekstra also noted a decline in the number of Canadians using preclearance at U.S. airports. He mentioned that Canadians have been traveling less to the U.S. since tensions rose during Trump's presidency, which has included controversial remarks and a trade dispute. Statistics Canada reported a decrease of over 16 percent in Canadian residents returning from the U.S. by air in July compared to the previous year.

"We’re not sure we can make the numbers work anymore because preclearance is something that is done at the expense of the U.S. government. We pay for it," Hoekstra said. Currently, there are 15 preclearance locations worldwide, allowing travelers to complete customs processes before boarding flights to the U.S.

Robertson challenged Hoekstra's comments about preclearance, noting that Canadians still travel to the U.S. significantly, even if the numbers have dropped. He questioned whether ending preclearance would be detrimental to U.S. interests, stating, "We’re your biggest source of tourism. Ending preclearance, doesn’t that cut off your nose to spite your face?"

Hoekstra responded, "Nobody said we were ending preclearance. Don’t put words in my mouth." He acknowledged the decline in travel but emphasized the need to understand the reasons behind it. The conversation highlighted ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Canada amid changing political dynamics.