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By James Bickerton
News Reporter
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford has been criticized by some Canadians after U.S. President Donald Trump broke off trade talks with Canada in response to an advert the Canadian province's government produced featuring former U.S. President Ronald Reagan arguing tariffs damage economic growth.
Some social-media users accused Ford of using "fake" audio and suggested that the outspoken leader of Canada's most populous province was "incompetent."
In a post on X Friday morning, Ford said: "Canada and the United States are friends, neighbours and allies. President Ronald Reagan knew that we are stronger together. God bless Canada and God bless the United States."
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Newsweek contacted Ford for additional comment on Friday via email outside of regular office hours.
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Why It Matters
The U.S. is Canada’s biggest single trade partner, constituting 77 percent of the country’s exports, and 49 percent of its imports in 2022, according to figures from the World Integrated Trade Solution website.
Tensions between Canada and the U.S. were already high after the Trump administration imposed significant new tariffs on its northern neighbor, while the president sparked anger and boycott calls by repeatedly suggesting Canada should join the U.S. as its 51st state.
What To Know
The advert produced by Ford’s team was drawn from an address delivered by Reagan on April 25, 1987. While it didn’t change any of Reagan’s words it did condense his comments substantially, so he appeared to say some sentences one after the other that in reality were separated.
In a statement the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute said the advert produced by Ford’s administration “misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address.” The organization added, “the Government of Ontario did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks” and the institute said it was “reviewing its legal options.”
On X, Vancouver-based Canadian commentator Marc Nixon said: “Ford’s $75 MILLION ad used fake Ronald Reagan audio to attack U.S. tariffs without permission from the Reagan Foundation. Trump’s furious.”
Keith Wilson, a lawyer from Alberta, wrote on X: “Why is Trump upset with Premier Ford? Ontario's gov cut a clip of President Reagan praising presidential tariff powers, then spent $75M on a US ad campaign misrepresenting him to attack President Trump. Watch what they clipped out here. Alberta should not have to suffer the consequences of stupid decisions of Ontario politicians. Alberta deserves better! #AlbertaIndependence.”
Canadian businessman Kirk Lubimov wrote: “Doug Ford's Ontario took out an anti-tariff ad using Ronald Reagan speech edited it to make him sound like he is talking against tariffs.
“They also used it without permission and now the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is reviewing legal action against Canada. This country is run by idiots.”
Tamara Lich, who helped organize the 2022 Canadian convey protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates, on X said: “Dear Canada, Please stop electing incompetent nincompoops. Better get yourself some Elbow Pads.”
The Ontario based ‘White Wabbit Warrior’ X account, which has over 46,000 followers, shared a screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social post announcing the end of trade talks with Canada adding: “Doug Ford managed to not only screw Ontario, but this time, all of Canada. Great job, idiot.”
Brian Lilley, a political columnist for the Toronto Sun, also shared a screenshot of Trump’s post adding: “So basically we are screwed.”
In Reagan’s full remarks the president was highly critical of tariffs, commenting: “The memory of all this occurring back in the ‘30s made me determined when I came back to Washington to spare the American people the protectionist legislation that destroys prosperity.” However he did also argue that specific tariffs could be justified in response to what he deemed unfair trade practices, citing the then Japanese policy on semiconductors.
The 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico was signed by President George H. W. Bush, who previously served as Reagan's vice-president. It built on negotiations conducted by Reagan during his presidency.
Ford is a member of Canada’s Progressive Conservative Party, as opposition faction to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party.
Earlier on Thursday in a joint news conference with Carney, Ford said he supports the prime minister “1,000 percent” regarding trade negotiations with the U.S., adding Ontario was trying to promote “Ronald Reagan’s message” about tariffs with its advert.
He said: “Do I always believe we should be tough? 100 per cent we should be tough. But again, I have the confidence in the prime minister, I always have his back, and we are on the same page.”
In March Ford threatened to block energy exports from his province to the U.S. in response to tariffs imposed on Canadian goods by Trump, though following discussion with U.S. officials he decided against going through with this.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social following the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute’s statement: “The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs. The ad was for $75,000,000. They only did this to interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts. TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A. Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”
Ben Meiselas, a co-founder of self-styled “pro-democracy” media outlet MeidasTouch, wrote on X: “I just watched the full April 25, 1987 Presidential Address by Ronald Reagan and the full version is actually far more supportive of free trade and against tariffs than the short clip in the Canadian ad.”
Economist Joey Politano wrote on X: “Throwing a hissy fit because the Canadians quoted Ronald Reagan at you, what a picture of the Modern Republican Party.”
Trump returned to the subject in a series of three Truth Social posts on Friday morning. In the first he said: "CANADA CHEATED AND GOT CAUGHT!!!They fraudulently took a big buy ad saying that Ronald Reagan did not like Tariffs, when actually he LOVED TARIFFS FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND ITS NATIONAL SECURITY. Canada is trying to illegally influence the United States Supreme Court in one of the most important rulings in the history of our Country. Canada has long cheated on Tariffs, charging our farmers as much as 400%. Now they, and other countries, can’t take advantage of the U.S. any longer. Thank you to the Ronald Reagan Foundation for exposing this FRAUD. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"
He then added: "THE UNITED STATES IS WEALTHY, POWERFUL, AND NATIONALLY SECURE AGAIN, ALL BECAUSE OF TARIFFS! THE MOST IMPORTANT CASE EVER IS IN THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!"
In the third he commented: "THE STOCK MARKET IS STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE BECAUSE OF TARIFFS!"
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen how the broader Canadian public will react to Ford’s spat with Trump. While some critics have accused him of mishandling the situation others might think he is standing up for Canada following unfair attacks.
Update, 10/24/2025, 7:36 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update, 10/24/2025, 8:00 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include new Truth Social posts from President Donald Trump, a statement from Doug Ford, and with additional information.
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