Former U.S. presidential advisor Ambassador Susan Rice joined Sonia Baxendale for a broad-ranging discussion about the 2024 U.S. election, its potential impacts on Canada, the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, U.S. relations with China, and the need for strong leadership to navigate the U.S. and its allies through these challenging times.

Ambassador Rice, who was National Security Advisor under President Obama and Domestic Policy Advisor under President Biden, shared her thoughts on the possible implications of another Trump presidency. In particular, she questioned the wisdom of the former President’s statements about blanket 20% tariffs on imports, undermining the independence of the Federal Reserve, his potential refusal to defend NATO members that don’t pay their share, and his ambivalence toward defending Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.

On trade, the Ambassador stressed that the U.S. has no closer ally than Canada, and expressed opposition to indiscriminate tariffs, especially on allies. In terms of geopolitics, she urged Canada to live up to its 2% defence spending commitment, and encouraged attendees to “pay attention” to this issue. She advocated for strategic tariffs on China to protect the supply chain, and spoke about the importance of stemming Russian aggression in Ukraine, lest its ambitions expand to other parts of Europe.

Ambassador Rice emphasized the urgency of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza. While acknowledging Israel’s right to self defence, she expressed grave concern about the human impact in Gaza and urged the parties to quickly negotiate the safe return of hostages. She also highlighted the risks of escalating tensions in the region, warning of potential consequences for the global economy.

In spite of the current challenges in the U.S. and around the world, Ambassador Rice said that “all is not lost”. She spoke about several bipartisan accomplishments of the current U.S. administration, advocated for democratic reforms to reduce polarization, and emphasized the need for sober leadership working in the national interest, and in the interest of U.S. allies like Canada.