Canada warns its diplomats to avoid being seen with U.S. candidates

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and other Canadian officials have frequently made the case that U.S. tariffs punish American consumers and businesses. | AFP-JIJI

Oct 23, 2026

Canadian diplomats working in the U.S. have been directed to stay away from candidates running in the midterm elections, and to keep a low profile to avoid allegations by the Trump administration of political interference, people familiar with the matter said.

Under written guidance distributed Tuesday, Canadian officials are barred from meeting with or even being in the same room as midterm candidates — all House candidates and a third of the Senate — unless given special permission.

Canadian officials are still allowed to conduct other business and meetings with elected U.S. representatives who are not up for reelection, if necessary. But they’ve been told to ensure they don’t appear in photographs alongside any elected U.S. officials, according to people who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the internal memo, which called the measures a “very risk-averse approach.”

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