An ad quoting Ronald Reagan has led president Trump to immediately halt all trade negotiations with Canada. The ad, paid for by the government of Ontario, used a 1987 clip of Reagan warning against protectionism.
In the excerpt, Reagan states, “but over the long run, such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer.” This was part of Ontario’s campaign to protest US tariffs that have hit its economy hard.
President Trump reacted furiously on social media, labeling the ad “fake” and accusing Canada of “egregious behavior.” He claimed the ad was an attempt to influence US court decisions on his tariffs.
The tariffs in question, which began at 25% and were raised to 35% by Trump, apply to Canadian steel, aluminum, timber, and cars. This prompted retaliatory action from Ottawa and significant economic pain for Ontario.
Complicating matters, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation condemned the ad, saying it used “selective audio” to “misrepresent” Reagan’s 1987 speech. The foundation, which Trump cited, confirmed it gave no permission for the clips.