Trump Responds to Ontario's $54M Ad Controversy with Tariff Hike

Brace yourselves for a trade war sequel—President Donald Trump just unleashed a 10% tariff hike on Canada, and it’s all thanks to a sneaky ad campaign that’s got him seeing red.

This cross-border clash exploded over a $75 million CAD (roughly $54 million USD) Ontario-funded advertisement aired during the 2025 World Series, prompting Trump to halt U.S.-Canada trade talks, label the ad deceptive, and hit back with tariffs as a response to what he calls a hostile maneuver, as The Daily Caller reports.

The saga began when Ontario, led by Premier Doug Ford, launched the pricey ad campaign, debuting it during Game 1 of the World Series showdown between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.

Ontario’s Ad Ignites Reagan Controversy

The advertisement featured edited audio from a 1987 radio address by former President Ronald Reagan, crafted to sound critical of high tariffs, paired with calming visuals of landscapes and a closing message touting free trade with “Ontario” and “Canada” splashed across the screen.

Trump didn’t mince words, slamming it as a “dirty play” and accusing Ontario of distorting Reagan’s true stance, insisting the late president was a staunch supporter of tariffs for national security and economic vitality.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute echoed Trump’s frustration, noting they never authorized the selective use of Reagan’s remarks and are weighing legal steps due to the misrepresentation.

Ford Defends Ad Amid Mounting Criticism

Despite the backlash, Ford announced on Friday that the ad would still air during Game 2 on Saturday night, though he maintained the plan was always to pull it after the second game of the series.

Ford stood by the campaign, declaring, “We’ve achieved our goal, having reached U.S. audiences at the highest levels,” and framing it as a conversation starter about tariffs’ impact on businesses and workers.

That defense didn’t douse Trump’s ire, as he grumbled to reporters before jetting off to Asia on Friday night that Ontario could have axed the ad sooner, warning he could “play dirtier” if pushed further.

Trump Ends Talks, Escalates With Tariffs

Late Thursday, Trump took to Truth Social to announce the termination of all trade negotiations with Canada, citing their unacceptable behavior over the ad as the breaking point.

By Saturday, with the ad airing again during Game 2, Trump fired off another Truth Social broadside: “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.”

He further charged that Ontario’s ad was a calculated move to influence the U.S. Supreme Court on Canadian tariff disputes, a bold accusation that adds fuel to an already blazing diplomatic fire.

Political Games and Taxpayer Costs

Ontario, Canada’s most populous province under Ford’s leadership since 2018 as a Progressive Conservative, chose the high-visibility World Series—featuring Canada’s sole MLB team, the Blue Jays—to broadcast its message, a decision that’s hard to ignore given the public funds involved.

While Ford claims the ad achieved its purpose, one can’t help but question whether taxpayers in both nations are footing the bill for a political chess match that benefits few beyond the players at the top.

With neither Ford’s office nor the White House offering further comment, this tariff tussle leaves us wondering if cooler heads will prevail or if the trade battlefield will only get messier from here.