President Donald Trump intensified his economic standoff with Canada on Friday, declaring a 10% increase in tariffs after accusing Ontario’s government of producing a “fraudulent” anti-tariff ad that distorted Ronald Reagan’s words. Trump charged that the campaign misused the late president’s legacy and aimed to sway an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case regarding his authority to impose tariffs.
In a fiery post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that Canada had been “caught, red handed” using “selective audio and video” from Reagan’s 1987 radio address. He said the misleading ad was meant “to influence the United States Supreme Court on the issue of Presidential Tariff Authority.” He added, “Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now.”
The president mocked Canada’s interpretation of Reagan’s stance on tariffs, declaring, “Ronald Reagan LOVED Tariffs for purposes of National Security and the Economy, but Canada said he didn’t!” He blasted Ontario for refusing to remove the ad, writing, “Their Advertisement was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD.”
Trump’s decision followed shortly after Ontario Premier Doug Ford met with Prime Minister Mark Carney and agreed to temporarily suspend the province’s $75 million anti-tariff campaign. The ad series, which used Reagan’s 1987 remarks that tariffs “hurt” Americans, had already provoked Trump to terminate trade talks with Canada earlier in the week.
The Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute weighed in, stating that Ontario “did not seek nor receive permission” to use the former president’s words and that it was “reviewing its legal options.” The foundation said the province’s depiction of Reagan’s comments was misleading, echoing Trump’s claim that the campaign was deceitful.
Ontario officials defended the advertisement, arguing that Reagan’s remarks about tariffs “hurting” Americans were used to highlight how protectionist policies can backfire by increasing consumer costs and damaging trade partnerships. The one-minute commercial has aired on multiple major U.S. networks, including Fox, NBC, and CNBC, and was scheduled to run nationally during the World Series.
Premier Ford said the campaign was meant to “initiate a conversation” about the damage caused by trade barriers and proudly noted that it had reached “US audiences at the highest levels.” Posting on X, Ford said the ads would continue through the first two World Series games—featuring the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers—before the temporary suspension begins.
Speaking to reporters before departing for Asia, Trump ridiculed Ford’s explanation and accused Canada of attempting to “illegally influence the United States Supreme Court.” He described the Ontario campaign as “really dishonest” and “crooked.”
Prime Minister Carney, who succeeded Justin Trudeau earlier this year, has been seeking to repair trade relations with Washington since Trump imposed sweeping 35% tariffs on Canadian imports of steel, aluminum, and automobiles. With today’s 10% hike, analysts warn that tensions could escalate into another full-scale trade war between the two countries.
{Matzav.com}
NAFTA was Reagan’s pet project and part of his election campaign.
“ad was meant “to influence the United States Supreme Court on the issue of Presidential Tariff Authority.”
Good grief, a lot of countries are just going to have to wait this out as it’s been ruled overly broad use of selective authority by 2 courts now.