President Donald Trump escalated his trade war with Canada Saturday, announcing a 10% hike on tariffs after blasting Ontario’s anti-tariff ad campaign as “fraudulent” and accusing the US neighbor of misusing Ronald Reagan’s legacy.
Canada had been “caught, red handed” using “selective audio and video” of Reagan’s 1987 radio address in an ad opposing tariffs, the president wrote on Truth Social, claiming the move was designed to sway an upcoming US Supreme Court case on his authority to issue the levies.
“Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Ronald Reagan LOVED Tariffs for purposes of National Security and the Economy, but Canada said he didn’t!” the president wrote.
“Their Advertisement was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD.”
Trump’s latest salvo came hours after Ontario Premier Doug Ford agreed to pause the province’s $75 million anti-tariff campaign on Monday, following talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The ads — which use clips of Reagan warning that tariffs “hurt” Americans — triggered Trump on Thursday to terminate trade negotiations with Canada.
The Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute said the Ontario government “did not seek nor receive permission” to use Reagan’s remarks and was “reviewing its legal options.”
The foundation accused the province of misrepresenting Reagan’s speech, bolstering Trump’s claims that the ad was deceptive.
The Ontario ad features Reagan’s 1987 comments that tariffs “hurt” Americans — remarks the province said were used to illustrate how protectionist policies raise prices and strain trade relationships.
The one-minute spot has aired on major US networks including Fox, NBC and CNBC — and was slated for national placement during the World Series broadcast.
Ford defended the campaign as an effort to “initiate a conversation” about the economic fallout of tariffs, saying it had already reached “US audiences at the highest levels.”
In a post on X, he said Ontario would continue airing the ad through the first two World Series games — featuring the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers — before the pause takes effect.
Trump, speaking to reporters before leaving for Asia, dismissed Ford’s defense and accused Canada of trying to “illegally influence the United States Supreme Court.”
He called the ad “really dishonest” and “crooked.”
Carney, who replaced Justin Trudeau as prime minister earlier this year, has been seeking to restart trade talks after Trump imposed sweeping 35% tariffs on Canadian goods, including steel, aluminum and cars.
The new increase announced on Saturday widens that penalty further, raising fears of another full-blown trade war between the two allies.
The Post has sought comment from the Canadian government.
