President Donald Trump announced Thursday night that he would be halting all trade discussions with Canada due to the Ontario provincial government’s advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan speaking unfavorably about tariffs.
Trump’s declaration accused Canada of attempting to sway a forthcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could jeopardize numerous tariffs, including those affecting Canada.
This statement followed The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute‘s claim that the advertisement mischaracterizes a presidential radio address Reagan made in April 1987, noting that his comments were altered without consent.
The foundation did not specify what was deemed misleading.
However, it urged the public to view an unedited video of his address on its YouTube channel. The foundation also indicated it was evaluating its legal recourse.
“The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just revealed that Canada has deceitfully utilized a FAKE advertisement, featuring Ronald Reagan denouncing Tariffs,” Trump stated in a Truth Social post.
“They undertook this solely to interfere with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision, and other judiciary matters,” he commented.
“TARIFFS ARE CRUCIAL TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND ECONOMY OF THE U.S.A. Due to their blatant misconduct, ALL TRADE DISCUSSIONS WITH CANADA ARE NOW TERMINATED,” Trump asserted.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared on Oct. 14 that the province would allocate $75 million for advertisements to air in the United States, showcasing Reagan’s critique of tariffs.
“And we will echo that message in every Republican district throughout the nation,” remarked Ford, who identified himself as a “devoted Ronald Reagan admirer.”
Ford shared the advertisement on X on Oct. 16.
In the ad, Reagan can be heard saying, “When someone suggests, ‘Let’s impose tariffs on foreign imports,’ it appears they are acting patriotically to safeguard American products and jobs.”
“And sometimes it works temporarily, but only briefly,” Reagan states over visuals of American scenery, homey scenes, and workplaces.
“Yet in the long run, such trade restrictions harm every American worker and consumer.”
Trump has emphasized tariffs as a focal point of his second term in office.
Thursday marked the second instance when Trump declared he was ending trade discussions with Canada.
On June 27, he announced that the United States was “terminating ALL trade discussions with Canada” following Ottawa’s choice to impose a digital services tax on American technology companies.
Canada revoked that tax two days later.
