Penn Political Union hosted former ambassador David Cohen for a fireside chat about United States-Canada relations on Tuesday.
The Sept. 15 discussion, titled “The Future of Alliances,” was held in the Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics auditorium and moderated by Perry World House Executive Director Marie Harf. The conversation covered Cohen’s tenure as U.S. ambassador to Canada under former President and Benjamin Franklin Presidential Practice Professor Joe Biden and his perspective on the Trump administration’s relationship with Canada.
“I really viewed my role as representing the United States, the story of the United States, representing it to Canadians, the Canadian government, and to the other countries who had ambassadors in Canada,” Cohen said during the discussion.
He also spoke about the differences between politically appointed and career ambassadors — describing their responsibilities as falling into three buckets: entertainment, administration, and substantive policy work.
“One of the most important things that he talked about was how vital it is if an ambassador has a relationship with the president,” Harf said in an interview after the event. “When you are an ambassador representing the United States in a foreign country, if you can call the president and talk to him or her about any issue, that gives you so much more clout in the country where you’re working.”
During the event, Cohen highlighted his relationship with Biden as an example, saying that the former president often asked for his opinion on foreign policy issues unrelated to Canada — including in the Middle East.
While he does not “believe in criticizing President Trump” because of his “respect for the office of the president,” Cohen emphasized the importance of maintaining the bilateral U.S.-Canada relationship.
“The United States has had no better friend, partner, or ally than Canada,” he added.
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Cohen added that he is “opposed” to tariffs in general, calling them “governmental interference in the way in which the free-market economy works.”
He characterized Trump’s tariff policy toward Canada as “herky-jerky,” but clarified that he does not view the relationship with Canada as permanently damaged.
“I’m the eternal optimist,” Cohen said in an interview. “I think this relationship can be put back together again, in part because it must be put back together again. And I’m optimistic that that will happen under different leadership.”
He added that the relationship is supported by what he described as “institutional inertia,” saying that Canada is the largest export market for 37 states, including Pennsylvania. He also expressed hope that attendees realize “just how important a close relationship is between Canada and the United States from a trade, defense, intelligence, and security perspective.”
Attendees were invited to ask Cohen questions at the end of the event and speak with him afterward.
College sophomore Shayna Strauss, PPU’s executive of internal affairs, said she hopes to become a politically appointed ambassador.
“It’s very inspiring to meet someone in my own career field and take his expertise and advice,” Strauss said in an interview. “I think my favorite part of the Penn Political Union is the ability to grow my network in the political atmosphere.”
College senior Neil Pereira, PPU’s external vice president and the event’s primary organizer, said the organization invited Cohen because the “U.S.-Canada alliance has been one of the most active headlines in virtually every single news source over the last three to six months, and particularly over issues of trade and tariffs.”
“I hope students had a chance to better understand the current issues that are being debated between the United States and Canada, and where we are as of today in the U.S.-Canada relationship,” he added.
“I love coming back to Penn,” Cohen, the former chair of Penn’s Board of Trustees, said in an interview. “I love any opportunity I have to be able to interact with Penn students and Penn faculty. I find it intellectually stimulating.”
