Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he will “never apologize” for an anti-tariff advertising campaign that led U.S. President Donald Trump to abruptly end trade negotiations with Canada. The $75 million campaign, which used archival footage of former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs, aired widely in the U.S. and went viral after Trump denounced it on Truth Social.
Ford defended the ads Monday, calling them the “most successful in North America,” claiming they reached over 11 billion views. He said the goal was to warn Americans that tariffs “will cost them,” not to provoke Trump. However, Trump told reporters Canada had “played dirty” and announced a 10% retaliatory tariff.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said the two nations were close to agreements on steel, aluminum, and energy before talks collapsed. White House officials called Ontario’s campaign “taxpayer-funded propaganda,” while Carney emphasized Canada remains ready to resume talks “once the U.S. returns to the table.”
The Reagan Foundation later criticized Ontario for misusing Reagan’s speech without permission, though former Reagan adviser Bruce Bartlett said the ad was “100% accurate.” Other Canadian leaders, including Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, voiced support for Ford’s stance against tariffs.
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