Kevin O'Leary has publicly expressed his viewpoint that President Donald Trump's recent address at the World Economic Forum in Davos points toward an emerging negotiation between the United States and Canada, centered on a defensive strategy for North America. In his remarks, O'Leary emphasized that such discussions are poised to be mutually beneficial for both countries, and he has adjusted his investment strategy to reflect this outlook, increasing his holdings in Canadian dollars and Canadian energy assets.
During a post on the social media platform X, O'Leary shared video excerpts from his analysis, noting that President Trump's speech largely reiterated themes from a prior address. However, what stood out in Davos was the intensified focus on power dynamics, especially in relation to competition with China.
Describing Trump’s discussion, O'Leary noted the growing significance of electricity capacity in North America as a critical bottleneck affecting the race to establish artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. Trump’s proposal to accelerate federal permitting for energy infrastructure projects appears to have unsettled financial markets, according to O'Leary. He speculated on the opportunity to explore overlooked natural gas reserves, suggesting that expedited permit approvals could drastically shorten timelines for infrastructure projects from multiple years to just months.
The Canadian dimension of this strategy received particular attention from O'Leary. Referencing Trump's remarks about Greenland alongside existing NATO commitments, O'Leary inferred an intent to renegotiate terms and assert strategic interests rather than escalate tensions. He highlighted Canada’s potential centrality in any envisioned territorial defense mechanism — described metaphorically as a "dome" — for continental security.
Reflecting his conviction, O'Leary stated that he had increased his exposure to both the Canadian dollar and Canadian power generation resources. His involvement extends beyond speculative positioning; in 2024, he collaborated with the Municipal District of Greenview in Alberta to develop Wonder Valley, a significant AI data center campus located within the Greenview Industrial Gateway. This initiative aligns with the broader theme of strengthening North American infrastructure to support technological competitiveness.
Examining the Canadian dollar's recent performance provides context for O'Leary’s investment decisions. Over the past year, the Canadian dollar has appreciated approximately 4.15% against the U.S. dollar but exhibits a longer-term decline, down about 7.28% over the last five years. In the immediate 24-hour period preceding O'Leary's statements, the currency experienced a 0.17% increase, trading near 0.7236 U.S. dollars.
Parallel to these developments, Canada’s recently enacted trade agreement with China has drawn criticism from U.S. policymakers and analysts. Michael Pillsbury, affiliated with the Heritage Foundation, has cautioned that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s direct engagement with China, bypassing Washington, may entail risks. Pillsbury characterizes Canada’s approach as "playing with fire," urging collaboration with the United States while expressing skepticism regarding China’s reliability in adherence to trade commitments.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has echoed concerns, labeling the Canada-China agreement a serious strategic and ethical misstep. Notwithstanding these critiques, President Trump publicly endorsed the deal, describing it as positive and supporting Canada’s pursuit of such agreements. The trade accord includes tariff reductions on Chinese electric vehicles and Canadian canola products, and was finalized during Carney’s 2017 visit to China, where discussions were held with President Xi Jinping. Carney framed the pact as a strategic realignment of economic relations between the two nations.
O'Leary’s perspective, coupled with the high-profile policy signals from President Trump, underscores ongoing shifts in North American defense and energy policy, alongside complex international trade considerations. While precise outcomes remain contingent on forthcoming negotiations and policy implementations, O'Leary’s positioning suggests confidence in Canadian energy resources and currency strength amid these geopolitical and economic currents.
During a post on the social media platform X, O'Leary shared video excerpts from his analysis, noting that President Trump's speech largely reiterated themes from a prior address. However, what stood out in Davos was the intensified focus on power dynamics, especially in relation to competition with China.
Describing Trump’s discussion, O'Leary noted the growing significance of electricity capacity in North America as a critical bottleneck affecting the race to establish artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. Trump’s proposal to accelerate federal permitting for energy infrastructure projects appears to have unsettled financial markets, according to O'Leary. He speculated on the opportunity to explore overlooked natural gas reserves, suggesting that expedited permit approvals could drastically shorten timelines for infrastructure projects from multiple years to just months.
The Canadian dimension of this strategy received particular attention from O'Leary. Referencing Trump's remarks about Greenland alongside existing NATO commitments, O'Leary inferred an intent to renegotiate terms and assert strategic interests rather than escalate tensions. He highlighted Canada’s potential centrality in any envisioned territorial defense mechanism — described metaphorically as a "dome" — for continental security.
Reflecting his conviction, O'Leary stated that he had increased his exposure to both the Canadian dollar and Canadian power generation resources. His involvement extends beyond speculative positioning; in 2024, he collaborated with the Municipal District of Greenview in Alberta to develop Wonder Valley, a significant AI data center campus located within the Greenview Industrial Gateway. This initiative aligns with the broader theme of strengthening North American infrastructure to support technological competitiveness.
Examining the Canadian dollar's recent performance provides context for O'Leary’s investment decisions. Over the past year, the Canadian dollar has appreciated approximately 4.15% against the U.S. dollar but exhibits a longer-term decline, down about 7.28% over the last five years. In the immediate 24-hour period preceding O'Leary's statements, the currency experienced a 0.17% increase, trading near 0.7236 U.S. dollars.
Parallel to these developments, Canada’s recently enacted trade agreement with China has drawn criticism from U.S. policymakers and analysts. Michael Pillsbury, affiliated with the Heritage Foundation, has cautioned that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s direct engagement with China, bypassing Washington, may entail risks. Pillsbury characterizes Canada’s approach as "playing with fire," urging collaboration with the United States while expressing skepticism regarding China’s reliability in adherence to trade commitments.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has echoed concerns, labeling the Canada-China agreement a serious strategic and ethical misstep. Notwithstanding these critiques, President Trump publicly endorsed the deal, describing it as positive and supporting Canada’s pursuit of such agreements. The trade accord includes tariff reductions on Chinese electric vehicles and Canadian canola products, and was finalized during Carney’s 2017 visit to China, where discussions were held with President Xi Jinping. Carney framed the pact as a strategic realignment of economic relations between the two nations.
O'Leary’s perspective, coupled with the high-profile policy signals from President Trump, underscores ongoing shifts in North American defense and energy policy, alongside complex international trade considerations. While precise outcomes remain contingent on forthcoming negotiations and policy implementations, O'Leary’s positioning suggests confidence in Canadian energy resources and currency strength amid these geopolitical and economic currents.