Ontario Premier Slams US Envoy For 'Expletive-Laced Tirade' Over Tariff Ad That Angered Trump

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has demanded an apology from the US Ambassador to Canada after what CBC News described as a “expletive-laced tirade” between the envoy and the provincial trade representative.

The tense exchange between US envoy Pete Hoekstra and Ontario trade representative David Paterson took place over a controversial advertisement featuring ex-US president Ronald Reagan’s radio address to criticise Donald Trump’s tariffs, BBC reported. The advertisement prompted Trump to suspend trade talks with Canada and impose an additional 10% tariff on Canadian imports.

The minute-long ad, sponsored by Ontario’s provincial government, features excerpts from Ronald Reagan’s 1987 radio address on free and fair trade- remarks that warned against

the dangers of protectionism and high tariffs. Reagan’s address was rearranged to form an anti-tariff narrative, which was perceived as a critique of Trump’s trade policies.

Ford called Hoekstra’s remarks “absolutely unacceptable” and “unbecoming of an ambassador”, and demanded an apology. “Pete, you gotta call Dave up and apologise. It’s simple,” Ford said. “You know, the cheese slipped off the cracker. I get it. You’re ticked off, but call the guy up because you’re a good guy, and Dave’s my champion,” he added.

‘We Achieved Our Goal’

Ford also stood firm behind his decision to run the advertisement that angered Donald Trump, saying, “we have achieved our goal.” He said the TV spot had “one billion views”, and has garnered attention from as far as the UK and India.

“What do they expect me to do? Sit back and roll over like every other person in the world,” he was quoted as saying by BBC. Earlier, Ford said Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had seen the TV spot before it was released, along with his chief of staff.

In the Ontario legislature, Ford called the advert “the most successful in the history of North America” and said it had ignited conversations across the US and the world about Trump’s tariffs. “President Trump wants to attack our country, but I’m never going to take a back seat to President Trump,” he said.

Meanwhile, Trump has hinted at a possible reduction in tensions with Canada over the “fake” advertisement, after meeting with Carney for dinner on Wednesday night during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in South Korea.

“We had a very nice conversation with him last night,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One when asked about his interaction with Carney, after his announcement of 10% tariff increase on Canadian goods.

Currently, multiple Canadian products face a 35 per cent tariff, with steel and aluminium subject to 50 per cent, and energy products 10 per cent. Trump did not specify which sectors the additional tariffs would target.