Ontario Premier Doug Ford erupted at President Donald Trump on Monday, delivering a profanity-laced response as the escalating trade battle between the United States and Canada reached a new level.
Ford tore into Trump during an interview with CTV after the president ramped up the trade war with 50% tariffs. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to respond to the tariffs “dollar-for-dollar.”
“Well, he can kiss my a** as far as I’m concerned,” Ford told CTV. “We’re gonna go at him full-steam.”
Ford made clear that he wants Canada to take an aggressive approach in confronting Trump, saying the country should use everything at its disposal.
“We need to throw everything and the kitchen sink at him,” Ford said.
The Ontario premier then accused Trump of being both “arrogant” and “cocky” while invoking former President Ronald Reagan in arguing against backing down from someone he described as a bully.
Ford said that if someone reaches a draw with a bully, there is nothing stopping that bully from returning “the next day, and the next day.”
“And that’s all Donald Trump is is a bully,” Ford said. “He’s gonna have a rude awakening.”
Ford also raised the stakes by threatening to cut off electricity to U.S. manufacturing facilities.
“He might as well call up the Energizer Bunny, because he should be powering his facilities,” Ford said.
The heated remarks came after Trump accused Canada earlier Monday of spending years “ripping off” the United States.
“WE DON’T NEED CANADA, THEY NEED US!” Trump declared while announcing his tariff plans.
In a Truth Social post, Trump specifically targeted Canadian tariffs affecting American farmers and agricultural products, arguing that those policies have made life difficult for U.S. farmers and contributed to a $60 billion trade deficit between the two countries.
Trump declared the arrangement was “not sustainable” and said it would no longer continue.
The president announced that beginning Jan. 1, 2027, tariffs on all cars, trucks, automotive parts and steel would rise to 50%.
Trump also told companies there was a way to avoid those tariffs entirely.
“Build in the U.S. and there are ZERO TARIFFS,” Trump wrote.
The president said Canada would no longer be “treated like a State” and accused the country of being among the worst nations in the world for the United States to deal with when it comes to trade and other matters.
Trump further claimed that Canada conducts 95% of its business with the United States, while saying the situation is the “exact opposite” for America.
“They feel entitled,” Trump wrote, before again insisting that the United States does not need Canada and that Canada instead depends on the U.S.
Ford’s furious response showed just how heated the dispute has become, with the Ontario premier now threatening to use electricity supplied to American manufacturing facilities as part of Canada’s response to Trump’s escalating tariffs.
[READ MORE: Trump Adds Tariffs To Canada]
