Canada’s liberal leaders are backpedaling fast after crossing the line with President Donald Trump — and now they’re scrambling to repair the damage.
During a press conference after the Asia-Pacific (APEC) Summit in South Korea, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that he personally apologized to President Trump after a political ad in Ontario attacked America’s tariff policy and twisted words from President Ronald Reagan to make Trump look bad.
“I did apologize to the president,” Carney admitted. “The president was offended by the ad … It’s not something I would have done — and so I apologized to him.”
Carney also revealed he had tried to stop Ontario Premier Doug Ford from airing the controversial commercial, but Ford moved forward anyway.
Trump Responds with Strength
Speaking aboard Air Force One, President Trump praised Carney for his “very nice” demeanor but didn’t let the issue slide.
“He apologized for what they did with the commercial because it was a false commercial,” Trump said. “Ronald Reagan loved tariffs — and they tried to make it look the other way. He did apologize, and I appreciate it.”
The ad — which Ford’s team aired during the 2025 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays — falsely implied that Reagan opposed tariffs. Historians note Reagan actually used targeted tariffs to defend American jobs and industries — just as Trump is doing today.
Misinformation Sparks Trade Consequences
President Trump called the ad “possibly AI-generated,” accusing Canada of spreading misinformation about U.S. trade policy. In response, Trump suspended trade negotiations and ordered a 10% increase in tariffs on Canadian imports — a move that sent shockwaves through Ottawa but was cheered by American workers.
“We’re not going to let foreign governments run fake ads against the United States and think there won’t be consequences,” a senior White House official told Fox News Digital.
Canada Scrambles to Contain Fallout
Prime Minister Carney’s public apology marks a rare diplomatic retreat. Canadian politicians are split — some backing Ford’s attack, others fearing economic retaliation from Washington.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown defended Ford, calling the ad “truthful.” But his defense rings hollow as even Canadian economists admit Reagan — like Trump — used tariffs to protect national industries from unfair competition.
Trump Stands Firm
While Trump accepted the apology, he made clear that trade talks won’t resume anytime soon. “We appreciate the apology,” a White House spokesperson said, “but America comes first.”
The timing of the controversy is no accident. U.S. officials believe Canada’s ad campaign was an attempt to influence the upcoming Supreme Court case reviewing Trump’s tariff policies, with oral arguments set for November 5.
America Won’t Be Bullied
For now, Trump’s message to Canada — and the world — is unmistakable: If you attack the United States, you’ll pay a price.
Carney’s apology is a reminder that under President Trump, America no longer bows to global pressure. The era of apologizing for American strength is over — and it’s the rest of the world doing the apologizing now.