U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that Prime Minister Mark Carney personally apologized to him for the Ontario government’s controversial ad campaign featuring former President Ronald Reagan’s words against tariffs aimed at an American audience. Trump expressed his appreciation for his relationship with Carney but condemned the ad as misleading, asserting that Reagan actually supported tariffs. Carney later confirmed his apology to Trump, disavowing the ad as something he would not have endorsed.
The ad, launched by the Ontario government on October 14, utilized excerpts from Reagan’s 1987 radio address discussing free trade. Despite the selective use of Reagan’s words in the ad, the former president was known for his overall advocacy for free trade during his presidency. After the ad aired, it faced criticism from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, prompting Trump to halt trade negotiations with Canada, labeling the ad as fake.
Carney acknowledged that he had previewed the ad and advised Ontario Premier Doug Ford against its dissemination. Following Ford’s decision to pause the ad campaign, tensions eased between the two countries. Trump referenced a recent meeting with Carney at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, emphasizing the importance of their personal relationship despite the ad controversy.
Trump previously mentioned receiving an apology regarding the ad, without specifying the source of the apology. Ford’s office declined to provide further comments on the matter. The episode underscores the delicate balance in international relations and the impact of messaging on trade negotiations.