Quebec Minister Trades Insults with Trump over Tariffs
Quebec's economy minister Bernard Drainville has sparked controversy after using profanity during a radio interview on Wednesday. Speaking about US President Donald Trump's tariffs and accusations of American interference in Quebec's election campaign, Drainville said 'f, you, esti'.
The Quebec swear word 'esti' comes from the French word for the communion host. Drainville explained that his response was to Trump's claims that Canada belongs to him. 'We don't belong to Trump. We don't belong to another country,' he added.
CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette ordered Drainville to retract the remark, stating it had no place in public discourse. Despite this, Drainville later acknowledged that his choice of words was inappropriate but stood by the sentiment behind them.