Former prime minister Jean Chrétien cracked a few jokes, but had a stern message for U.S. President Donald Trump during his speech at the Liberal leadership election ceremony.

“From one old guy to another old guy, stop this nonsense.”

Chrétien spoke out against Trump’s tactics which he says is dividing the “long and fruitful” relationship between Canada and our neighbours south of the border.

In reference to Trump’s repeated calls to make Canada the 51st state, the former PM offered the president a history lesson from the American Revolution.

“In 1776, Benjamin Franklin spent a year in Montreal trying to convince the people to join the American Revolution, and he was told by the Francophone ‘non, merci’.”

Chrétien joked that Trump should be recognized with the Order of Canada because of how united citizens have become in standing against him.