‘I want to make a deal’: Doug Ford says Canada and U.S. need to work together amid tariff fight

Ontario’s premier says his exchange with Donald Trump got “a little personal” but insists Canada and the U.S. need to work together.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling for a return to the negotiating table with U.S. President Donald Trump, despite their increasingly heated public feud over tariffs and trade.

Speaking to CNN on Tuesday, Ford acknowledged that things had become personal between the two leaders but said his focus is on reaching a fair trade deal.

“Things got a little heated. It got a little personal yesterday between the president and myself,” Ford said. “But I want to make a deal, a good deal for the American people, good deal for the Canadians.”

Ford also responded to Trump’s threat to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America,” dismissing it as “a lot of rhetoric.”

He argued that Ontario and the U.S. are deeply connected economically, saying Ontario is the largest customer for 17 U.S. states and the second-largest for another 12.

“We’re stronger working together rather than attacking each other,” Ford said.

Ford also addressed his previous comments that Ontario could cut off electricity and critical mineral exports to the U.S., saying “everything is on the table” as Canada responds to the latest tariffs.

However, he stressed that he would rather increase trade with the U.S., saying Ontario has the electricity and critical minerals that American industries need.

“I want to send you more electricity. I want to send you more nickel. We want to work together,” Ford said.

The comments mark a softer tone from Ford’s remarks Monday, when he called Trump a “dictator,” “bully” and “loser.”

Ford ended his CNN interview by once again calling for a deal between the two countries.

“Let’s get a deal done,” he said.