U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed that Prime Minister Mark Carney apologized for the Ontario government’s advertisement that utilized former president Ronald Reagan’s words to convey an anti-tariff message to an American audience. Trump expressed his sentiments during an interaction with reporters aboard Air Force One, stating that although he maintains a positive relationship with Carney, he found the ad to be inaccurate. According to Trump, Carney personally apologized for the content of the commercial, which he described as misleading, emphasizing that Reagan was actually supportive of tariffs.
In response, Carney confirmed his apology to Trump, asserting that he disapproved of the ad and indicated that it was not a decision he would have made. Carney disclosed that he had previewed the ad before its release and had advised Ontario Premier Doug Ford against its dissemination.
The controversy stemmed from the one-minute ad launched by the Ontario government on October 14, featuring excerpts from Reagan’s 1987 radio address discussing free trade. Despite the ad’s selective use of Reagan’s words to criticize tariffs, the former president was known for advocating free trade during his tenure.
Following the ad’s broadcast, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute condemned the Ontario government’s actions on social media. Subsequently, Trump terminated trade discussions with Canada, denouncing the ad as deceptive and “FAKE.”
Although Ford initially defended the ad campaign, he eventually agreed to halt it after it aired during the World Series. Trump referenced a recent meeting with Carney at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, noting that despite their amicable relationship, he believed the ad was misleading and appreciated Carney’s apology.
Trump had previously mentioned receiving an apology for the ad in a separate media briefing, though he did not specify the source of the apology. Ford’s office declined to provide further comments on the matter.
