Ontario Premier Doug Ford sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, calling his recent comments about Canada “unacceptable” and warning they contribute to global instability.
Speaking at a Queen’s Park news conference alongside auto industry leaders, Ford said Trump “remains relentless in his campaign to create a more unstable, unsafe and uncertain world.” His remarks followed Trump’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where the U.S. president again expressed interest in taking control of Greenland and claimed Canada only “lives” because of the United States.
“Over the last few days we have watched as President Trump has threatened Greenland, he has threatened Canada and he has threatened NATO allies,” Ford said, adding that unity within Canada has never been more important.
Trump also said Canada receives many “freebies” from the United States and “should be grateful,” and criticized a Davos speech by Prime Minister Mark Carney, saying he “wasn’t so grateful.”
Asked directly about those remarks, Ford said they were disappointing but typical of Trump. He pointed to a Truth Social post from earlier this week showing a doctored image of the U.S. flag superimposed over parts of North and South America, including Canada and Greenland.
“It is disappointing to see him on a full attack,” Ford said. “Putting the American flag over Canada, over Greenland — it is unacceptable the way he speaks.”
Ford said he fully supports Carney’s Davos message that the “old order is not coming back” and that middle powers must work together. He reiterated his long-standing view that Canada must diversify trade and build stronger partnerships with other democratically elected nations, reducing reliance on the United States.
“I’ve been saying this from day one, even before Prime Minister Carney was elected,” Ford said. “We have to diversify our trade, find new partners around the world, and move that forward as quickly as possible.”