Trump and Ontario premier trade insults as Canada-US tariff feud escalates
The trade dispute between Canada and the US escalated Monday into a war of words between President Donald Trump and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, a former supporter, over new tariffs. Trump announced a 50% tariff on Canadian automobiles, auto parts, and steel starting in January 2027. Ford initiated the clash with a crude remark directed at Trump and threatened to use "all available tools" against Washington, including restricting electricity and critical mineral sales to the US. Trump responded on social media, calling Ford a "lackey" of Prime Minister Mark Carney and comparing him unfavorably to his late brother, former Toronto mayor Rob Ford. Ford retaliated by calling Trump a "dictator," "tyrant," "loser," and "king of bankruptcies," referencing his business career. The dispute marks a sharp reversal from Ford's past support for Trump, which began eroding in 2020 over aluminum tariffs and broke fully in October 2025.