Ford repeats 'kiss my ass' jab at Trump as trade war escalates
Ontario Premier Doug Ford escalated his feud with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, repeating his "kiss my ass" comment and calling Trump a dictator amid the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade war. Trump responded on Truth Social, calling Ford "Flunky Ford" and the "less charismatic, intelligent" version of his late brother Rob Ford. The exchange follows the collapse of trade talks and the implementation of 50 per cent U.S. tariffs on about $28 billion worth of Canadian goods, with Prime Minister Mark Carney promising retaliatory dollar-for-dollar tariffs on Sept. 8. Ford made the initial comment on Toronto radio station Newstalk 1010 before reiterating it at a Hamilton news conference, where he vowed to protect Ontario workers. He also threatened to cut off electricity and critical minerals to the U.S., which supplies power to about 1.5 million people in Michigan, New York and Minnesota. Trump has announced new 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian automobiles, car parts and steel starting Jan. 1, 2027.