Ford softens Trump rhetoric as CUSMA talks near
Ontario's premier shifts tone ahead of critical trade negotiations, dropping aggressive anti-Trump stance to focus on reaching a deal.
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford is throttling back his aggressive anti-Trump rhetoric as the United States and Canada prepare for critical trade negotiations on the CUSMA agreement, which comes up for review on July 1.
Ford, who made fighting Trump a centerpiece of his 2025 re-election campaign and vowed to campaign against him in the U.S. midterms, sounded conciliatory when asked Wednesday about his apparent disdain with the U.S. administration.
"Well, you know something, I just love the American people," Ford said. "I love the U.S. I've said it a thousand times no matter what broadcast I'm on. The reception I get when I go down there is second to none."
Earlier this week, Ford completed the first of three planned trips to the U.S. in June to pitch Ontario's "Fortress North America" plan to policy-makers and industry leaders.
Ford has previously sparked anger from the Trump administration. He threatened a 25 per cent surcharge on hydro exports to three U.S. states in March 2025 in response to Trump's tariffs, then backed off when Trump's commerce secretary offered to meet with him in Washington. Last fall, Ontario ran an anti-tariff ad during the World Series featuring the voice of former president Ronald Reagan — a spot that angered Trump, who said it was why he was cancelling trade talks with Canada.
Liberal strategist Charles Bird said the heightened rhetoric gave voice to many Canadians' frustration, but with CUSMA talks becoming serious, a different tone makes sense. "The Premier has emerged as something of a lightning rod in the United States, and with the Trump administration," Bird said. "He's not been afraid to say things that Prime Minister Carney hasn't been in a position to say, but obviously you can only push that so far."
Conservative strategist Laryssa Waler, who once worked in Ford's office, said the premier will play an important role in the broader trade discussions even though he's not at the negotiating table. "The people who surround Donald Trump, and who frankly, donate to Donald Trump and influence Donald Trump, they like Doug Ford," she said.
The shift signals Ontario's recognition that reaching a mutually beneficial CUSMA deal will require a more collaborative approach with the U.S. administration.