Canadians have reacted with dismay to reports US President Donald Trump questioned whether Canada burned down the White House during a call with Justin Trudeau. British forces did set fire to the presidential residence during the War of 1812 with the US. But Canada did not exist at the time — it was made up of British colonies.

"Didn't you guys burn down the White House?" Trump asked in a call with Trudeau over new tariffs. It is not clear if the comment was intended as a joke, but a report that it followed an exchange in which Trudeau asked how the US could justify the tariffs as a "national security" issue. "It is simply ridiculous to view any trade with Canada as a national security threat to the US," Trudeau has said of the move.