--- title: "Danielle Smith defends Tennessee trip amid Canada-U.S. trade war" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/danielle-smith-defends-tennessee-trip-amid-canada-us-trade-war" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/danielle-smith-defends-tennessee-trip-amid-canada-us-trade-war" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/danielle-smith-defends-tennessee-trip-amid-canada-us-trade-war.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/danielle-smith-defends-tennessee-trip-amid-canada-us-trade-war" category: "Politics" published: "2026-09-02T12:26:28.659Z" source_reported: "2026-09-02T00:19:26.669Z" updated: "2026-09-02T12:26:28.659Z" trust_score: 50 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-02T12:59:50.457Z" --- # Danielle Smith defends Tennessee trip amid Canada-U.S. trade war *Alberta premier meets U.S. officials to promote Calgary as a music hub while Ottawa prepares retaliatory tariffs* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 50 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports corroborate key details; 11 digests add breadth but no new facts. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Full reports quote affected parties and separate fact from comment. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Headlines are measured; body text matches claims. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith will meet U.S. officials in Nashville to promote Calgary as a music industry hub and expand tourism ties. - The trip comes as Canada prepares retaliatory tariffs on 8 September 2026 in response to U.S. tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of Canadian goods. - Smith’s office said the meetings are part of ongoing diplomacy efforts, though the trip is personal. - No right-rated outlet reported on the trip, though it was covered by seven left-rated and three centre-rated outlets. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith will travel to Nashville, Tennessee, later this week on a personal trip. During the visit, she will meet with the head of Nashville’s chamber of commerce, Tennessee state tourism commissioner Mark Ezell, and the chief executive of a Nashville tourism marketing agency. Nathan Cooper, Alberta’s senior representative to the United States, will join the meetings. Smith described the trip as an opportunity to learn how Nashville became a music industry hub and to explore partnerships that could position Calgary as a similar destination. She also said Alberta aims to expand its tourism economy. The meetings are set against the backdrop of an ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of Canadian goods on 22 August 2026. Ottawa’s retaliatory tariffs are scheduled to take effect on 8 September 2026. Trade talks between the two countries broke down before the U.S. tariffs were implemented, with Prime Minister Mark Carney stating that the U.S. demands were excessive. ## What the coverage left out No right-rated outlet ran the story. None of the digests from left-rated or centre-rated outlets mentioned the $27.6 billion figure for the U.S. tariffs or the 50% rate. The music industry focus of Smith’s meetings was omitted from all digests except CBC News and CTV News. ## Who covered it Shares of the 12 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 67% (8) - Centre: 33% (4) - Right: 0% (0) 3 of 15 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-02T12:59:50.457Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 9 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-02T14:30:20.028Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The seven left-rated reports led on Smith’s defence of the trip as a diplomatic effort. CBC News and CTV News, the only outlets with full reports, quoted Smith directly: “I hope no one’s surprised to hear that I believe it’s my job to continue reaching out at all levels to various influencers in the United States.” Both reports framed the meetings as part of broader diplomacy amid the trade dispute. - CBC News included Smith’s statement that the trip was personal but that she would “take advantage of some of the expertise” in Nashville. It also noted her goal of positioning Calgary as “Nashville north” and her interest in transferring talent and expertise from Tennessee’s music industry. The report mentioned the breakdown of trade talks and Ottawa’s retaliatory tariffs. ### Centre - The three centre-rated reports carried Smith’s denial that the trip sent the wrong message. CTV News, which published a full report, quoted her statement that the U.S.-Canada relationship was an “incredible economic partnership, trade partnership, defence partnership.” The report also included her comments on Calgary’s music industry ambitions and the timing of the retaliatory tariffs. - Castanet and the Winnipeg Free Press, which published digests, summarised Smith’s defence of the trip and the context of the trade war. Neither digest mentioned the music industry or tourism aspects of the meetings. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 4 - unknown: 3 - veryHigh: 8 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [NetNewsLedger](https://netnewsledger.com/2026/09/02/albertas-casino-launch-redraws-canadas-digital-borders) — Alberta’s Casino Launch Redraws Canada’s Digital Borders - [CBC News](https://cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-premier-tennessee-trip-trade-war-9.7328864) — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Tennessee trip isn't sending wrong message amid trade war - [Castanet](https://castanet.net/news/Alberta/629937/Alberta-s-Smith-says-Tennessee-trip-isn-t-sending-wrong-message-during-trade-war) — Alberta's Smith says Tennessee trip isn't sending wrong message during trade war - [Loonie Politics](https://looniepolitics.com/albertas-smith-says-tennessee-trip-isnt-sending-wrong-message-during-trade-war) — Alberta’s Smith says Tennessee trip isn’t sending wrong message during trade war - [Bowen Island Undercurrent](https://bowenislandundercurrent.com/the-mix/albertas-smith-says-tennessee-trip-isnt-sending-wrong-message-during-trade-war-12732185) — Alberta's Smith says Tennessee trip isn't sending wrong message during trade war - [Global News](https://globalnews.ca/news/12044173/albertas-smith-says-tennessee-trip-isnt-sending-wrong-message-during-trade-war) — Danielle Smith says Tennessee trip isn’t sending wrong message during trade war - [CTV News](https://ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/albertas-smith-says-tennessee-trip-isnt-sending-wrong-message-during-trade-war) — Alberta's Smith says Tennessee trip isn't sending wrong message during trade war - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/2026/09/01/albertas-smith-says-tennessee-trip-isnt-sending-wrong-message-during-trade-war) — Alberta's Smith says Tennessee trip isn't sending wrong message during trade war - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/canada/alberta/alberta-s-smith-says-tennessee-trip-isn-t-sending-wrong-message-during-trade-war/article_98c7286f-cc2b-5a76-a5fb-06fa0fa6e5eb.html) — Alberta’s Smith says Tennessee trip isn’t sending wrong message during trade war - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/national-business/albertas-smith-says-tennessee-trip-isnt-sending-wrong-message-during-trade-war-12732171) — Alberta's Smith says Tennessee trip isn't sending wrong message during trade war - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/canada/alberta-s-smith-says-tennessee-trip-isn-t-sending-wrong-message-during-trade-war/article_23292f8b-64a1-590b-8153-b56e88874e59.html) — Alberta’s Smith says Tennessee trip isn’t sending wrong message during trade war - [Airdrie City View](https://airdriecityview.com/alberta-news/albertas-smith-says-tennessee-trip-isnt-sending-wrong-message-during-trade-war-12732181) — Alberta's Smith says Tennessee trip isn't sending wrong message during trade war - [WellandTribune.ca](https://wellandtribune.ca/news/canada/alberta-s-smith-says-tennessee-trip-isn-t-sending-wrong-message-during-trade-war/article_32e20479-22bc-571c-9adb-9e2a1cf7d4bf.html) — Alberta's Smith says Tennessee trip isn't sending wrong message during trade war - [thealbertan.com](https://thealbertan.com/lifestyle/albertas-smith-says-tennessee-trip-isnt-sending-wrong-message-during-trade-war-12732116) — Alberta's Smith says Tennessee trip isn't sending wrong message during trade war - [Western Investor](https://westerninvestor.com/national-business/albertas-smith-says-tennessee-trip-isnt-sending-wrong-message-during-trade-war-12732193) — Alberta's Smith says Tennessee trip isn't sending wrong message during trade war ## Questions **Why is Danielle Smith travelling to Nashville?** Smith is travelling to Nashville on a personal trip but will meet U.S. officials to promote Calgary as a music industry hub and expand tourism ties. The meetings are part of her stated diplomacy efforts amid a trade dispute between Canada and the U.S. **What are the U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods?** U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of Canadian goods starting 22 August 2026. Canada’s retaliatory tariffs are set to take effect on 8 September 2026 in response. **Which outlets reported on Smith’s trip?** Seven left-rated outlets and three centre-rated outlets reported on the trip. No right-rated outlet covered the story. CBC News and CTV News published full reports; the rest were digests. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/danielle-smith-defends-tennessee-trip-amid-canada-us-trade-war. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Danielle Smith defends Tennessee trip amid Canada-U.S. trade war", https://mediabias.news/politics/danielle-smith-defends-tennessee-trip-amid-canada-us-trade-war