President Trump took another swing at Canada late Friday, calling a controversial anti-tariff ad featuring excerpts from a former President Reagan speech, “crooked” and “dishonest.”
He also suggested that the video was “possibly” generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
“Canada lied,” Trump told reporters, as he prepared to depart for his Asia trip. “They made up a fake statement by President Reagan. Reagan was a big supporter of tariffs when needed. We need tariffs for national security, and they totally turned it around because they’re getting hurt by tariffs, and we’re gaining by tariffs.”
He also cited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation’s response to the advertisement, which was launched by Ontario’s government. The foundation signaled that the April 1987 address about imposing tariffs on Japan was misrepresented and that it is pursuing legal options over the use of the audio.
Trump canceled trade talks with Canada on Thursday after he became aware of the ad.
“Reagan liked tariffs and when necessary, he would use tariff,” the president said Friday. “It’s made us a very rich country. It’s also made us, when it was used against us, not good for us. But we’ve used them very successfully.”
The video, which incorporates real but spliced pieces of Reagan’s speech, is expected to play through the weekend during the MLB World Series, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Friday. After learning this, Trump called it “fraud” and “dirty playing.”
“I can play dirtier than they can,” he added.
Ford, after a conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, said the advertisement will be pulled on Monday to allow trade talks to resume.
Trump said that while he was satisfied with the previous trade deal with Canada, he did not know if he would speak with Carney about a path forward.
“We have a deal right now that’s very good for us and any deal that would have been made would have been better for them than the one they have right now that’s why I’m surprised they did this,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One late Friday. “… I don’t think there’s really much they can do.”
He added, “So, I assume leave it the way it is. If you leave it the way it is, it’s very good for us.”
Ford said the goal was achieved in reaching “U.S. audiences at the highest levels,” The Associated Press reported. “Our intention was always to initiate a conversation about the kind of economy that Americans want to build and the impact of tariffs on workers and businesses.”
The advertisement’s release comes as the Toronto Blue Jays, Canada’s only Major League Baseball team hosts the Los Angeles Dodgers for two games. The advertisement aired Friday night during Game 1. The Blue Jays lead 11-4.
Trump has accused Ontario’s government of trying to use the ad to influence an upcoming Supreme Court decision related to his sweeping tariff agenda. Earlier this year, the president raised the import tax on Canada to 35 percent.
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