Trump isn’t happy.
President Donald Trump has once again proven he’s serious about protecting American workers — this time by slapping an additional 10% tariff on Canadian goods after accusing the Ontario government of spreading a “fraudulent” anti-tariff campaign that twisted the legacy of President Ronald Reagan.
Trump Fires Back at ‘Dishonest’ Canadian Ad
The president made the announcement Saturday on Truth Social, blasting Canadian officials for airing what he called a “deceptive and disgraceful” television ad using Reagan’s 1987 radio address.
Trump said Canada was “caught red-handed” manipulating old Reagan footage to make it appear that the 40th president opposed tariffs — when in reality, Reagan strongly supported them for national security and economic protection.
“Due to Canada’s blatant distortion of the facts and their unfriendly actions, I’ve decided to raise the tariff on Canadian goods by another 10%,” President Trump said. “President Ronald Reagan strongly supported tariffs when they protected America’s national security and economy — yet Canada falsely claimed otherwise. Their ad was supposed to be pulled immediately, but they chose to air it during the World Series anyway, fully aware it was deceptive.”
The ad, funded by Ontario’s left-leaning government, aired on Fox, NBC, CNBC, and even during the World Series, prompting outrage across the U.S.
Reagan Foundation Sides with Trump
Within hours, the Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute confirmed that Ontario “did not seek nor receive permission” to use Reagan’s speech and accused the province of misrepresenting the late president’s words.
The Foundation is now reportedly exploring legal action — a move that bolsters Trump’s claim that the ad was “dishonest propaganda” designed to influence a pending U.S. Supreme Court case on his tariff authority.
Canada Backpedals After Backlash
Facing mounting criticism, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the province’s $75 million ad campaign would be paused after airing two more World Series games.
Ford attempted to justify the ad as an attempt to “start a conversation” about tariffs but admitted it had “reached U.S. audiences at the highest levels.”
Still, Trump dismissed that excuse, calling it a “blatant attempt to manipulate public opinion” and “an insult to President Reagan’s memory.”
Trump Strengthens U.S. Trade Defenses
This latest move adds a fresh 10% penalty on top of Trump’s 35% tariffs already placed on Canadian steel, aluminum, and automobiles — part of his broader effort to revive U.S. manufacturing and protect American jobs.
The new tariffs are expected to further strain relations with Ottawa, but Trump’s supporters see it as a long-overdue stand against foreign interference and economic manipulation.
“We’re not going to let any country — not even a friend — distort the truth or undermine America’s sovereignty,” Trump said before leaving for his Asia trip.
Carney, who replaced Justin Trudeau earlier this year, has been seeking to reopen trade talks, but Trump made it clear that fair trade, not free trade, remains the foundation of his America First economic agenda.
