Trump terminates trade talks with Canada, citing Doug Ford’s “fraudulent” TV ad
Reagan Presidential Foundation says Ford's ad "misrepresents" Reagan's 1987 address, using "selective" clips
Note: This story has been updated to include comments from Prime Minister Mark Carney (at bottom).
U.S. President Donald Trump has halted all trade negotiations with Canada, accusing Ontario of “fraudulent” use of Ronald Reagan speech in a campaign ad targeting American voters over tariffs.
The Ontario government launched a $75-million ad campaign this week, airing a commercial across U.S. networks featuring Reagan’s voice from his 1987 “Address to the Nation on Free and Fair Trade.” The ad compiles Reagan’s comments warning that protectionist policies lead to “trade wars,” job losses and economic collapse.
While the words were Reagan’s, they were taken out of chronological order.
While Reagan was known as a free trader and vocal in his opposition to tariffs, in the April 1987 radio address, Reagan was justifying why he was reluctantly hitting ally Japan with trade tariffs. Reagan explains that he was doing so as a “special case” because some Japanese companies were “engaging in unfair trade practices” contrary to a trade agreement with the US.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation issued a statement Thursday night criticizing Ontario for using “selective audio and video” without permission. “The ad misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address,” it said, adding that the foundation was reviewing legal options.
Trump cited the foundation’s comments in a second post late Thursday, declaring that “ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.” He claimed the ad was intended to “interfere” with a pending U.S. Supreme Court decision
Trump took again to Truth Social Friday morning, declaring “CANADA CHEATED AND GOT CAUGHT!!!” while lashing out at Canada’s protectionist supply management policies on certain agriculture sectors such as dairy.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has yet to address Trump’s reaction directly. However, on Friday morning, Ford stood by the ad campaign’s message in a post on X, writing, “Canada and the United States are friends, neighbours and allies. President Ronald Reagan knew that we are stronger together. God bless Canada and God bless the United States.”
Reporters at the Ontario Legislature report that Ford’s office says he is “not around” today and won’t be stepping in front of cameras.
The Globe and Mail’s Laura Stone reports that Ford is defiant, saying “I will be running the ad tonight for the World Series.”
Just over a week ago, Ford had publicly denounced Trump as a “tyrant” while demanding Canada retaliate after news that automaker Stellantis was shifting its Brampton operations to the United States.
Ford’s ad campaign fallout has deepened tensions in Canada–U.S. relations, with no clear signal from Washington on when talks might resume. Earlier in the week, multiple media leaks stated that a deal on steel and aluminum was possible in time for the upcoming APEC summit in South Korea.
On X, former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall lambasted Ford’s antics.
In Ottawa this morning before departing to Asia for his latest foreign trip, Mark Carney reiterated his same slogans on the trade battle, walking away as reporters tried to ask about Doug Ford’s ad and Trump’s furious reaction.
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Ford is a snake. A liberal not conservative and nowhere near the integrity of his brother. Like Trudeau he was voted in by his name.
I can't believe anybody who calls themselves conservative, voted for this moron. You're as bad as Liberals who voted Trudeau and then Carney simply because that's their party.