U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that Prime Minister Mark Carney apologized for an Ontario government advertisement that utilized former President Ronald Reagan’s words to convey an anti-tariff message to an American audience. Trump, in a conversation with reporters on Air Force One, stated that although he has a good relationship with Carney, he believed the ad was misleading as Reagan was actually in favor of tariffs.
Carney later confirmed that he apologized to Trump, expressing that he would not have approved the ad. He also mentioned that he had seen the ad before it aired and advised Ontario Premier Doug Ford against it. The controversial one-minute ad, launched by the Ontario government on October 14, featured excerpts from Reagan’s 1987 radio address on free trade, where Reagan defended limited tariffs but criticized their widespread use. Despite this, Reagan was known for his overall support for free trade during his presidency.
Following the airing of the ad, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute criticized the Ontario government on social media, leading to Trump terminating trade negotiations with Canada, denouncing the ad as fake and fraudulent. Ford eventually agreed to pause the ad campaign but only after it aired during the World Series.
Trump mentioned a recent meeting with Carney at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, where they had a positive dinner with representatives from other countries. Trump acknowledged Carney’s apology, emphasizing their strong personal relationship despite the disagreement over the ad.
This incident marks a continuation of the fallout from the ad, with Trump previously stating that he had received an apology without specifying the source. Ford’s office declined to provide additional comments beyond the premier’s earlier remarks on the matter.