Doug Ford tells Trump to 'kiss my ass' as Canada-U.S. trade war escalates
Ontario Premier escalates rhetoric over 50% U.S. tariffs; threatens electricity surcharge on American exports.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford told U.S. President Donald Trump to "kiss my ass" on Monday as the Canada-U.S. trade war heated up into personal insults and threats of electricity cutoffs.
The confrontation erupted after the Trump administration imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods — including steel, aluminum, and automotive products — that took effect Saturday, August 22. Prime Minister Mark Carney suspended negotiations with the U.S. on Friday and vowed Canada would impose dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs starting September 8.
During a radio interview Monday morning, Ford said he would fight back aggressively. "He can kiss my ass as far as I'm concerned," Ford told host Bill Carroll on Newstalk 580 CFRA. "We are going to go at him full steam. He's arrogant. He's cocky."
Trump responded on Truth Social later Monday, calling Ford a "flunky" and comparing him unfavourably to his deceased brother, Rob Ford, who was Toronto mayor. "Lots of 'bluster' from Doug Ford," Trump wrote, adding that "America has been carrying Canada for decades, but no longer."
At a news conference in Hamilton Monday afternoon, Ford doubled down, calling Trump "a dictator" and "the king of bankruptcies." He said he would be willing to cut off electricity and critical minerals to the U.S., noting Ontario sends power to over a million people in New York, Minnesota and Michigan. "That electricity surcharge is going to be on the table," Ford said. "I'll hold off on the ads for now, I don't want to escalate it anymore, but we need to fight back." (Ford previously ran anti-tariff ads in the U.S. featuring former President Ronald Reagan.)
Ford confirmed he had spoken to PM Carney about his public insults. "He wasn't against that," Ford said with a smile, adding: "I have a lot of real estate on my ass, so he (Trump) has a lot of room to kiss my ass."
The Ontario government announced Monday that it will immediately broaden eligibility for the Protect Ontario Financing Program in response to the U.S. tariffs, though details of who becomes newly eligible have not been fully released.
What specific sectors or businesses will qualify for the expanded Protect Ontario Financing Program, and how much funding is available?
What is the timeline and implementation cost for the proposed electricity surcharge on U.S. exports?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
When did the U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods take effect?
The Trump administration's 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods, including steel, aluminum, and automotive products, took effect on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
When will Canada's retaliatory tariffs begin?
Prime Minister Mark Carney vowed that Canada would impose dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs starting September 8, 2026.
How many Americans receive electricity from Ontario?
Ontario sends power to over a million people in New York, Minnesota, and Michigan, according to Premier Doug Ford.
What did Ontario announce in response to the U.S. tariffs?
On Monday, August 24, 2026, the Ontario government announced it would immediately broaden eligibility for the Protect Ontario Financing Program, though full details of newly eligible participants have not been released.
