Ontario Premier Doug Ford stood by his statement that U.S. President Donald Trump could “kiss my ass” as tensions between the two leaders escalated on Monday. Trump retaliated by calling Ford “Flunky Ford” and a less charismatic and intelligent version of his late brother Rob Ford.
The insults are part of the ongoing fallout from the Canada-U.S. trade war, reignited after failed trade talks over the weekend. The U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on approximately $28 billion worth of Canadian goods, effective early Saturday. In response, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. starting on September 8.
Ford initially made the controversial remark on a Toronto radio station, reiterating it later at a news conference in Hamilton. He vowed to safeguard the jobs and wages of Ontario workers, accompanied by Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy.
During the news conference, Trump criticized Ford in a post on Truth Social, labeling him and Carney as “clowns” and poor leaders. Ford dismissed Trump’s comments, stating he wouldn’t take advice from someone with a history of bankruptcies.
Ford hinted at potential retaliation measures, including cutting off electricity and vital minerals to the U.S. as the trade dispute continues. He also endorsed Carney’s decision to walk away from trade negotiations and pledged to support affected workers and businesses in Ontario.
Opposition parties, the Ontario NDP and Liberals, urged Ford to reconvene the legislature promptly to address U.S. tariff relief. They called for immediate action against Trump’s tariffs, criticizing Ford’s response as lacking concrete measures to support affected workers and industries.
Ford emphasized the need for collaboration among all levels of government to navigate the economic challenges posed by the trade war. He urged the federal government to provide substantial support and regulatory changes, including exemptions for tariff-affected sectors and investments in key industries.
Daniel Tisch, CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the importance of targeted and strategic tariff retaliation against the U.S. He expressed optimism that Canada, despite the trade tensions, can overcome the challenges and emerge stronger with the right collaboration between business and government.