Ford and Trump Trade Insults Amid Escalating Trade War

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and U.S. President Donald Trump engaged in a blistering war of words Monday, as trade tensions escalate following the collapse of negotiations between Canada and the U.S.

During a radio interview with Newstalk 1010 and a subsequent news conference in Hamilton, Ford told President Trump to “kiss [his] ass,” calling the U.S. leader a “dictator” and a ‛bully.” Ford further compared Trump to a schoolyard bully who steals lunch money and described him as the “king of bankruptcies.”

Trump responded via Truth Social, calling Ford a “flunky” and claiming he is the “less charismatic, intelligent, and overall unimpressive brother” of the late Rob Ford. Trump also labeled Premier Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney as “clowns” and asserted that Canada cannot survive without the United States.

The rhetorical clash follows Prime Minister Carney's decision to walk away from trade talks after accusing the U.S. team of making untenable last-minute changes. According to CBC Toronto, 50 per cent U.S. tariffs on approximately $28 billion of Canadian goods took effect Saturday. Trump has additionally warned that tariffs on Canadian steel, car parts, and automobiles will rise to 50 per cent beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

In response, Ford suggested he is considering a surcharge on electricity exported to the U.S. and previously threatened to cut off critical minerals. CityNews Toronto reports that Ford also ran anti-tariff advertisements on U.S. television that utilized a voice-over from former President Ronald Reagan.

While Ford maintains that Carney has his “full support,” opposition leaders have criticized the approach. Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles called for the immediate recall of the legislature to address the tariffs, while interim Ontario Liberal leader John Fraser described Ford's comments as a “WWE smackdown” rather than a concrete plan for workers.