Trump’s feud with Canada: how a Ronald Reagan ad sparked new tariffs

What started as a Canadian advertising campaign quickly turned into a full-blown trade conflict between the United States and Canada.

In just 48 hours, a television ad – featuring the late President Ronald Reagan’s warning about the dangers of tariffs – led President Donald Trump to accuse Canada of “fraud” and impose new levies.

Last weekend, negotiations between Washington and Ottawa were frozen and the two sides exchanged barbs on social networks and on television.

Here’s how the feud has deepened in recent days:

Thursday, October 16, 2025 — 12:06 p.m. ET

Ontario Premier Doug Ford kicked off the row by announcing the launch of a new advertising campaign in the United States.

“It’s official: Ontario’s new US ad campaign has launched,” Ford wrote on X.

“Using every tool at our disposal, we will never stop advocating against U.S. tariffs on Canada. The path to prosperity is through collaboration.”

The minute-long ad featured former U.S. President Ronald Reagan warning that tariffs “harm all American workers and consumers” and “inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries.”

The ad aired on major US networks and was scheduled to air during the first two games of the World Series.

Thursday, October 23, 2025 — 4:15 a.m. ET

The issue exploded eight days later when Trump posted on Truth Social, accusing Canada of faking Reagan quotes in the ad.

“The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada fraudulently used a FALSE ad featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs,” Trump wrote.

“ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED. »

Trump was responding to a statement from the Ronald Reagan Foundation and Presidential Institute that the Ontario government “distorted” Reagan’s 1987 “radio address to the nation on free and fair trade” and used it without authorization.

“The Ontario government did not seek or obtain permission to use and edit the remarks,” the Foundation said, adding that it was exploring legal options.

Thursday, October 23, 2025 — 7:27 p.m. ET

Ontario Premier Doug Ford tried to defuse the situation.

“Our intention has always been to start a conversation about the type of economy Americans want to build and the impact of tariffs on workers and businesses,” he wrote on X.

“In discussions with Premier Carney, Ontario will suspend its advertising campaign in the United States effective Monday so that trade negotiations can resume.”

Ford reaffirmed that Canada and the United States were “neighbors, friends and allies” and encouraged cooperation to “build Fortress Am-Can.”

Saturday October 25, 2025 — 9:30 p.m. ET

Trump has reignited the conflict.

In another Truth Social article, he accused Canada of deliberately airing the “fraudulent” ad during a broadcast of the World Series – which is being contested between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Canada’s only MLB team, the Toronto Blue Jays.

In the same article, he announced an additional 10% tariff on imports from Canada.

“The sole purpose of this FRAUD was Canada’s hope that the United States Supreme Court would come to its rescue on tariffs,” Trump wrote.

“Due to their serious misrepresentation of the facts and their hostile act, I am increasing the tariffs imposed on Canada by 10% beyond what they currently pay.”

Trump also wrote that Reagan “LOVED tariffs for national security and economic purposes.”

Friday and Saturday October 24 and 25, 2025 — During the World Series

Hours after Trump announced the tariffs, Reagan’s ad aired again – twice – during the World Series.

Games between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers were played at the Rogers Center in Toronto and broadcast live across North America.

The Blue Jays dominated Game 1 11-4, while the Dodgers bounced back in Game 2 with a 5-1 victory.

Sunday October 26, 2025 — Mornings

The dispute spread to American television.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared on CNBC’s “Meet the Press” calling Ontario’s ad “propaganda” and “psychological operations.”

“It’s a kind of propaganda against American citizens,” Bessent said. “This has clearly damaged our relationship with Canada’s most populous province.”

In another interview the same day on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” he called the ad “interference in the sovereign affairs of the United States” and said it had “clearly damaged” relations between Washington and Ottawa.