Donald Trump is at it again.
Late Thursday night, the US President threw a huge tantrum on social media over anti-tariff advertising that the Ontario government works in America. In response, Trump said on his Truth Social platform that “all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated,” which is not an overreaction at all.
If Joffrey Baratheon grew up to become American President, this is what it would look like.
— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) October 23, 2025, 11:03 pm
The commercial, which began airing last week in the US as part of Ontario's $75 million national anti-tariff campaigncontains comments by former US President Ronald Reagan in April 1987 about the importance of “rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition”, noting that heavy tariffs could lead to job losses at home and harm international relations.
It's official: Ontario's new advertising campaign has launched in the United States.
Using all the tools at our disposal, we will never stop opposing US tariffs on Canada. The path to prosperity is through collaboration.
Check out our new ad. pic.twitter.com/SgIVC1cqMJ
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) October 16, 2025
Trump, who senselessly hit Canada and the rest of the world with reckless tariffs, naturally responded with the maturity of a five-year-old. On his Truth Social platform, Trump said “tariffs are very important to the national security and economy of the United States” and criticized Canada for its “egregious behavior.”
Trump said the ad was “fraudulent” because statement from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in which the group argued that the Ontario ad “misrepresents” the former president's comments and that the provincial government “did not seek or receive permission to use or edit the comments.” The Reagan Foundation said it is now “considering legal options.”
Listen to President Reagan's unedited remarks here: https://t.co/1gQUcbR4eZ pic.twitter.com/iqmjSuypp0
— Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute (@RonaldReagan) October 24, 2025
However, the organization did not specify what exactly was distorted in the ad. After all, the one-minute commercial uses actual footage of Reagan's 1987 radio address on trade negotiations with Japan. The video is clearly editedgiven that Reagan's original full speech lasted five minutes. and did include some criticism of Japan that was not in the Ontario ad, including Reagan noting that he placed higher tariffs on Japanese goods.
However, he mentioned that this was only in response to Japan “engaging in unfair trade practices that violate the agreement” with the US, and that he is “unwilling” to impose such trade barriers, explaining why he believes such actions are harmful, as he does in the Ontario ad. Despite all this, Trump incorrectly claimed on Truth Social that Reagan “loved tariffs for our country and its national security.”
It remains to be seen what will come of this latest development in Trump's endless trade wars with Canada. Earlier this week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney admitted that a broader trade agreement with the US will not be reached any time soonAnd that was before Trump's latest collapse. And today Carney, who is in Asia for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in South Korea, told reporters that “we are ready” to resume negotiations with the United States However, he did not specifically mention the Ontario government's announcement or whether any federal action would be taken in response to it.
Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded to Trump's outrage by posting Reagan's full 1987 address on social media. “Canada and the United States are friends, neighbors and allies. President Ronald Reagan knew we were stronger together,” Ford said.
Canada and the United States are friends, neighbors and allies. President Ronald Reagan knew that we are stronger together.
God bless Canada and God bless the United States.https://t.co/n1Nj6ofNZU
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) October 24, 2025
It's unclear whether Ford plans to pull the ad or move forward with any alternative anti-tariff messaging.
Image credit: Shutterstock
MobileSyrup may earn a commission from purchases made through our links, which helps fund the journalism we provide for free on our website. These links do not influence our editorial content. Support us Here.
