Washington — U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated his criticism of Ontario’s anti-tariff ad campaign, doubling down on his decision to end trade talks with Canada just hours after announcing the move
In a series of early morning social media posts, Trump accused Canada of attempting to “influence” an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling on his global tariff policy, claiming the Ontario government’s ad campaign amounted to foreign interference.
“Canada is trying to illegally influence the United States Supreme Court in one of the most important rulings in the history of our country,” Trump wrote, referencing his administration’s tariff regime introduced under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The high court is set to hear arguments on the legality of that move in November.
The controversy stems from Ontario’s $75-million advertising campaign, which features clips of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan warning against the dangers of tariffs in a 1987 address. The ads, broadcast across multiple American networks, emphasize Reagan’s view that protectionism leads to “trade wars” and economic harm.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute swiftly criticized the campaign, saying it “misrepresents” Reagan’s original remarks and that Ontario “did not seek or receive permission” to use or edit the footage.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s office responded, defending the campaign and clarifying that the commercial uses an unedited, public-domain excerpt from one of Reagan’s official speeches. “President Reagan was a champion of free and fair trade — the message speaks for itself,” Ford’s office said in a statement.
Trump, however, has taken a sharply different view, insisting that Reagan “loved tariffs for our country’s national security” and calling Canada’s campaign “fraudulent.”
The diplomatic spat comes as tensions between Ottawa and Washington rise amid an ongoing trade war and stalled negotiations on sectoral deals involving steel, aluminum, and energy.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has maintained that Canada continues to pursue “constructive dialogue” despite Trump’s social media declarations, emphasizing the need for stability between two of the world’s largest trading partners.
For now, Trump’s latest outburst signals a hardening of his protectionist stance — and adds a new layer of political drama to a trade relationship already defined by turbulence, tariffs, and tweets.