The words mean different things to different people, but there is no doubt Donald Trump is against electoral interference. Unless he is the one doing the interfering.

He recently suggested Canada and Canadians were trying to influence the outcome of the US midterm elections that are taking place next week. He seemed quite upset about it.

Apparently Canada’s refusal to mildly accept American tariffs and to respond appropriately is somehow an attempt to influence the vote. Of course, if the US wasn’t trying to destroy Canada’s economy Canada wouldn’t have needed the counter tariffs that are hurting the American economy. The bully doesn’t like it when someone hits back.

While most Canadians have a low opinion of Trump and his tariff war, I doubt there is any organized effort to influence how Americans vote. We are well aware it is a waste of time – if the Republicans lose control of Congress, Trump will just do whatever he likes, without concern for whether it is legal. Apparently there is no-one in the USA who can hold him to account for his actions. The midterms are meaningless.

Governments wherever they are have preferences about who leads the nations they have to deal with. But there is a big difference between a preference and meddling in someone else’s election.

So the idea that State Department and Republican Party officials met with Alberta separatists in advance of that province’s recent referendum does not constitute electoral interference, right? Just a friendly discussion of possibilities. Though if it had been Canadian officials and American separatists (and yes there are some areas that wouldn’t mind joining Canada), Trump would be screaming blue murder.

As I say, it all depends on who is doing the interfering.