Donald Trump has slammed the brakes on all trade talks with Canada—over a TV ad.
The Ontario government’s new campaign quoted Ronald Reagan’s 1987 speech criticizing tariffs, and Trump wasn’t having it.
On Truth Social, he blasted Canada for “fraudulently using” Reagan’s words and called the ad “FAKE.”
He also accused the country of meddling in U.S. court rulings.
“ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED,” he declared in all caps.
The ad featured Reagan’s warning that “trade barriers hurt every American worker,” set to images of bustling factories and cargo ships.
Trade Tensions Escalate
But the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation quickly fired back.
Ontario never asked permission and had “misrepresented” the late president’s message.
Ontario’s premier, Doug Ford, defended the campaign, saying, “We’ll never stop making the case against American tariffs on Canada.”
Those tariffs—now at 35% after Trump’s recent hike—have hit Ontario especially hard.
Trump’s move comes as tensions rise globally.
He’s sanctioned Russia’s top oil firms and is preparing for a high-stakes meeting with China’s Xi Jinping.
Reagan once warned that “high tariffs lead to retaliation.” Ironically, nearly four decades later, it’s his words that just reignited a trade war.
