On March 25, 2003, at a speech to the Economic Club of Toronto, Cellucci faced controversy when he criticized Canadian opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. He argued that America was waging war for its own security, and that the United States would "never hesitate" to support Canada if it faced a security threat. This wording was considered especially unfortunate by some since the United States did in fact delay years before joining the British Empire in both World Wars I and II in Europe. "The Globe and Mail" reported Cellucci's remarks under the front-page headline "U.S. rebukes Canada" and Canadian nationalist Mel Hurtig called him "ill-mannered, obnoxious, [and] arrogant".