keep in mind that quebec is having its general election this year, in october at the latest. the party leading in the polls is the main pro-independence one and they have said before that an independent quebec would have stronger relations with the usa (altho they have also recently said there would be no referendum on independence as long as trump is in power, and most of the quebec population is against independence right now)

there is no way that the usa is not trying do some meddling with those threats