RORSCHACH TEST — DONALD TRUMP's resounding victory over KAMALA HARRIS means one of two things for Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU's political career. Probably. → Conventional wisdom says it's bad news — the latest example of a frustrated electorate punishing an incumbent government for a cost-of-living crisis that even the most positive economic indicators can't refute. → Or maybe it’s good. A couple of columnists were out early Wednesday to declare Trudeau the real winner in the aftermath of Trump’s stunning return to power. The Sun's WARREN KINSELLA, no fan of the PM, predicted a gradual improvement in polls. The Star's MARK MCQUEEN called the U.S. election result a "career-saving opportunity" for Trudeau. Many will roundly mock the latter takes. But few whispers about the prime minister's leadership followed Liberals into their weekly caucus meeting on Wednesday. For the moment, the Ottawa fishbowl is obsessed with a single question: How does Team Trudeau deal with Trump 2.0? — Hints of a plan: Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND 's weekly press conference on economic policy was all Trump all the time. Freeland talked up people-to-people ties. "We have really effective experience working together with a number of U.S. administrations and with this specific team, and have really built some enduring relationships, I would even say friendships," she said. Later on: "We have been very, very conscientious, very systematic about maintaining our relationship, maintaining our lines of communication with the Trump team." → Case study: Freeland, who reportedly dined this year with former USTR ROBERT LIGHTHIZER, told reporters she spoke with her former trade friend/foe "a few times" on Election Day. They've recently found common cause confronting Chinese imports. Industry Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE said he was texting members of Trump's team, "and they’re responding." — Phone call politics: It wasn't entirely clear for most of Wednesday if or when Trump and Trudeau, whose relationship status is best described as complicated, had renewed acquaintances. Canada used to be first on the call list. It took until evening for word to spread that the pair had found each other via phone . → Point-form notes: When the PM congratulated Trump, a source familiar with the call said Trudeau mentioned his dad's comeback win after an election loss. Trump "loved that" and called PIERRE TRUDEAU “a fantastic guy.” During the call, Trump had this to say about working with Trudeau when both were in office: "We had a great relationship and got a lot done together." Also on their shared to-do list: Fentanyl. — World leaders who also talked to the POTUS-elect: Indian PM NARENDRA MODI ("great conversation"), Italian PM GIORGIA MELONI ("willingness to work in close coordination"), British PM KEIR STARMER ("the relationship between the UK and US … will continue to thrive for many years to come"), Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY ("an excellent call"), Hungarian PM VIKTOR ORBÁN ("big plans for the future!"). The exact order of phone calls isn't certain, but Canada wasn't top of the speed dial. "In diplomacy, order is not random," a former diplomat, granted anonymity to speak freely, told Playbook. "There is protocol/tradition and there is prime importance. With the United States, Canada should be checking both boxes. Good that the call took place but we used to be higher on the list." — Vancouver-bound: Trudeau is off to Vancouver at the end of the workweek for a pair of Friday evening fundraisers and the Liberal Party's British Columbia regional convention. A little distance from Ottawa as the PMO plans its next steps.
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