President Donald Trump announced late Thursday that he is ending “all trade negotiations” with Canada after an ad from the Canadian government misused former President Ronald Reagan’s image and words to criticize U.S. tariffs. Trump called it “egregious behavior” and said the move was clearly meant to sway U.S. court decisions.
Trump wrote on his social media site, “The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs.” He continued, “The ad was for $75,000. They only did this to interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts. TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A. Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”
The dispute erupted after Ontario’s government released a television spot that appeared to splice Reagan’s 1987 remarks on trade, portraying him as opposing U.S. tariffs. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute quickly denounced the ad, posting on X that it “misrepresents the ‘Presidential Radio Address to the Nation on Free and Fair Trade’ dated April 25, 1987” and that Ontario did not have permission to “use and edit the remarks.” The foundation said it is reviewing legal options and invited the public to view Reagan’s unedited speech for themselves.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who earlier vowed to “double exports outside the U.S.” in response to American tariffs, has yet to comment. He is traveling to a summit in Asia as tensions rise. The ad campaign was also promoted by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who posted on X, “It’s official: Ontario’s new advertising campaign in the U.S. has launched. Using every tool we have, we’ll never stop making the case against American tariffs on Canada. The way to prosperity is by working together.”
The irony, of course, is that Reagan’s actual message was one of fair trade rooted in American strength — not appeasement. The distortion underscores a troubling trend: foreign governments trying to shape U.S. political narratives and even influence court outcomes. For Trump, whose America First trade stance prioritized national security and domestic industry, this was a red line.
Trade between the two nations remains deeply intertwined — roughly $2.7 billion in goods cross the border daily — but Trump has long warned that the relationship must be “fair, reciprocal, and beneficial to American workers.” His first-term U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement sought to rebalance decades of trade deficits, but Canadian leaders have increasingly resisted those terms while benefiting from American markets and defense.
Trump’s decisive move to halt talks sends a clear message: the United States will not tolerate manipulation or disrespect disguised as diplomacy. For years, U.S. administrations have allowed friendly nations to test boundaries on trade and policy. Trump’s action, while bold, reinforces a simple principle — America’s economic security is national security.
