It does not take any extraordinary diplomatic skill for an American president to get in a spat with Russia or China, but Canada? That is extraordinary — extraordinarily stupid.

On a daily basis, Donald Trump proves himself unfit to be president, but his repeated insults and affronts to Canada, especially his imposition of huge, self-defeating tariffs on America’s northern neighbor, may be the premier example of his ignorance and incompetence.

The U.S.-Canadian border has, for more than two centuries, been the world’s most peaceful boundary between nations. Canada has been a loyal ally in multiple wars and a great economic partner. There have been occasional trade disputes, but they have always been resolved cordially.

America had no better friend than Canada — until Trump decided to pick fights with Canadian political leaders, babble about making Canada the 51st state and impose ridiculous 50% tariffs on Canadian imports.

Instead of buckling and bowing to Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has responded with his own set of tariffs, winning the solid backing of his countrymen, even though the trade war is hurting the Canadian economy.

Trump’s tariffs are also doing serious harm to America’s economy, but Trump has said he does not care.

The president’s latest delusional stunt is to sign an order changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America. This gambit will prove as impotent as his attempt to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and his threat to steal Greenland from Denmark.

On a recent trip to France, I encountered no anti-American feelings, only pity. Like the French, all of our allies look at us like an old friend who has suddenly gone insane and refuses to seek psychiatric care. Meanwhile, our enemies gaze with glee as they watch the rapid withering of American influence.

This once great country is being run by a boorish, petulant, 80-year-old adolescent who has transformed the United States into an international embarrassment.

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