Following a recent incident, U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned that Prime Minister Mark Carney apologized for an Ontario government advertisement that utilized former President Ronald Reagan’s words to convey an anti-tariff message to an American audience. Trump stated during a press briefing aboard Air Force One that despite his positive relationship with Carney, the ad was misleading, and Carney expressed regret for its content. Trump emphasized that the commercial misrepresented Reagan’s stance on tariffs, as Reagan was known for supporting free trade policies.
Carney later confirmed that he had indeed apologized to Trump for the advertisement and clarified that he disapproved of its content. He admitted to having seen the ad beforehand and advised Ontario Premier Doug Ford against running it. The ad, launched by the Ontario government on October 14, featured excerpts from Reagan’s radio address from April 1987 discussing free trade, where Reagan defended limited tariffs but criticized their broader application. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute criticized the ad on social media shortly after its release, leading Trump to halt trade negotiations with Canada, labeling the ad as fake.
Despite the controversy, Ford eventually agreed to pause the ad campaign following its airing during the World Series. Trump recounted a recent meeting with Carney at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, highlighting their positive personal relationship and Carney’s apology for the ad. The Ontario government faced criticism for the advertisement, prompting discussions on the impact of such messages on trade relations. Trump previously mentioned receiving an apology for the ad and reiterated this sentiment without specifying the source of the apology. Ford’s office declined to provide further comments on the matter.