U.S. President Donald Trump has mentioned that Prime Minister Mark Carney offered an apology for the Ontario government’s advertisement that utilized former President Ronald Reagan’s statements to convey an anti-tariff message to an American audience. Trump stated during a media interaction on Air Force One that he maintains a positive relationship with Carney but criticized the ad, describing it as misleading. He reported that Carney was polite and expressed regret for the commercial, emphasizing that Reagan actually supported tariffs.
Carney, in turn, confirmed the apology to Trump and stated that the ad did not align with his own views. He revealed that he had previewed the ad before its release and had advised Ontario Premier Doug Ford against proceeding with it. The ad, launched by the Ontario government on October 14, featured excerpts from Reagan’s speech in April 1987 discussing free trade. Despite the selective use of Reagan’s words on tariffs, the former president was known for advocating free trade policies during his presidency.
Following the ad’s broadcast, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute criticized the Ontario government on social media, leading to Trump’s decision to halt trade negotiations with Canada, labeling the ad as deceptive. Ford eventually agreed to pause the ad campaign, albeit after it had been aired during the World Series.
Trump recounted a recent face-to-face meeting with Carney at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit and praised their personal relationship despite his disapproval of the ad. Trump mentioned that Carney had apologized for the incident.
This incident isn’t the first time Trump has acknowledged an apology regarding the ad. He previously stated to the press that an apology had been issued, without specifying the source. Ford’s office declined to provide further comments beyond the premier’s initial remarks on the matter.