US President Donald Trump has abruptly ended all trade talks with Canada after discovering an advertisement that featured former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs. Trump called the ad “fraudulent,” claiming it misused Reagan’s image to influence US court decisions and undermine American policies.
In a post on X, Trump said the ad was fake and accused Canada of interfering in the country’s legal and economic affairs. He stressed that tariffs are vital for America’s national security and economic strength. The ad reportedly cost $75 million and used old Reagan footage where he warned that tariffs could cause job losses and trade wars.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford admitted that the ad came from his province and acknowledged that Trump likely “wasn’t too happy” about it. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation also criticized the ad, saying Ontario’s government edited Reagan’s 1987 radio address without permission.
This decision halts weeks of discussions between Washington and Ottawa aimed at resolving disputes over steel and aluminum tariffs. The move is a setback for Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who recently met Trump to ease tensions but left without any firm deal.
