Canadian Leader Trashes Trump
Trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa are boiling over — and Ontario Premier Doug Ford is taking direct aim at President Donald Trump.
In a CNN interview Thursday, Ford called Trump “probably the most disliked politician in Canada — maybe even the world” over his push to renegotiate trade terms. Ford claimed Canadians see the U.S. as their “closest family member” and accused the president of targeting an ally.
Ford also suggested that many Republican lawmakers disagree with Trump privately but “are too afraid to say anything” publicly for fear of political retaliation.
The remarks came just a day after Ford warned that Trump could trigger an early review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) instead of waiting until 2026. “He’s not one to follow the rules. He can pull the carpet out from underneath us at any time,” Ford told reporters.
President Trump, who has made protecting American workers a cornerstone of his America First agenda, recently floated the idea of a 35% tariff on Canadian imports. Supporters say the move would protect U.S. jobs and manufacturing from unfair foreign trade practices.
Still, Canada’s trade officials are signaling they want to keep talking. Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc told CBS’s Face the Nation that while Ottawa was “disappointed” by the tariff threat, he believes “there’s a great deal of common ground” to strengthen both economies.
Prime Minister Mark Carney echoed that message Wednesday, saying Canada is focused on “building our industrial strength at home” while working toward a new U.S. trade deal. He also pledged to boost domestic industries, expand exports, and break down internal trade barriers between Canadian provinces.
This high-stakes standoff will determine whether North America’s biggest trading partners move toward a tougher, America First deal — or whether Canada can push for a softer approach.
