What to know
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford called United States President “a loser” during a news conference in Hamilton Monday afternoon.
- After Ford said Trump could “kiss my ass” in a radio interview, the president posted to Truth Social deeply personal insults, comparing Ford to his late brother Rob Ford.
- Trump also threatened Canada, telling its Northern neighbours to “fall in line” or face consequences.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged 50 per cent retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods that will kick in Sept. 8.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called United States President Donald Trump “a loser” after Trump labelled him as the “less charismatic, intelligent, and overall unimpressive” version of his late brother Rob Ford.
Ford made these blistering jabs at the U.S. President during a news conference in Hamilton Monday afternoon, where he discussed the province’s economic plans regarding retaliatory tariffs placed by Canada against the U.S.
Trade talks between Canada and the United States fell apart late Friday night and into the weekend as Prime Minister Mark Carney chose to walk away from an unfair trade deal that threatened to upend Canada’s sovereignty.
As a result, Trump re-instated a 50 per cent tariff on approximately $28 billion of Canadian goods Saturday morning, impacting products such as hockey sticks, wine, dairy, alcohol, flowers, and animal byproducts.
When asked about the tariffs on Toronto’s Newstalk 1010, Ford said Trump could “kiss my ass.”
@nowtoronto Doug Ford is firing back at Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat, telling the U.S. president he can “kiss my ass” after Trump threatened to raise tariffs on cars, trucks, auto parts and steel to 50 per cent next year. #onpoli ♬ original sound – Now Toronto
Within hours, Trump hit back on Truth Social, comparing Ford to his late brother Rob Ford and threatening Canada to “fall in line.”
“Lots of “bluster” from Doug Ford, who is the Premier of the Canadian Province of Ontario, but who is better known as the less charismatic, intelligent, and overall unimpressive brother of the late, great, Rob Ford,” Trump wrote in a post on the social media network.
“America has been carrying Canada for decades, but no longer! The U.S.A. will always be far bigger, richer, and stronger than Canada…Someone should get these clowns to “fall in line” or, the consequences for Canada will be far WORSE!”
In the Hamilton news conference, Ford doubled down on his “kiss my ass” jab, reiterating that Trump “has a lot of room to kiss my ass” and called the president “a dictator” and “a bully.”
“I don’t respond to a dictator like President Trump, a bully like President Trump. As I said before, he’s the type of guy in school that would take your lunch money one day, take your toque off your head the next day, and steal your running shoes,” the premier said when a CBC reporter asked if he had a response to Trump’s insults.
“I’ve been in this game a lot longer than he has. I’ve got skin on me like an alligator, and you think an insult from him hurts me? Well bring it on buddy, bring it on. I’ve dealt with guys like you my whole life and guess what — you all become losers because you’re a loser.”
Over the weekend, Carney pledged retaliatory tariffs that would match Trump’s tariffs “dollar for dollar to protect our workers and businesses.” The tariffs take effect Sept. 8 and target U.S. goods across sectors including steel, dairy, appliances, electronics and agricultural equipment.
No further negotiations between the U.S. and Canada are currently scheduled.
