Ford Defends Anti-Tariff Ad, Says ‘We Woke Up America’
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is standing by the controversial anti-tariff advertisement that angered U.S. President Donald Trump, saying the campaign achieved its purpose by sparking a national conversation across the border.
“We generated a conversation that wasn’t happening in the U.S. — now every single local and national outlet is talking about it,” Ford told reporters Monday at Queen’s Park.
The one-minute television ad, which used former president Ronald Reagan’s 1987 remarks promoting free trade, aired widely on U.S. networks including during the World Series and the American League Championship Series.
Trump, misattributing the ad to Canada rather than Ontario, called it “fraudulent and fake” before announcing the termination of trade negotiations with Canada last week.
Ford: ‘We got our money’s worth’
Despite Trump’s fury, Ford called the campaign “very effective,” claiming it earned over a billion impressions and successfully highlighted how tariffs hurt American workers.
“You know why President Trump is so upset right now? Because it was effective,” Ford said. “It woke up the whole country.”
Ford said he paused the ad campaign after discussions with Prime Minister Mark Carney, so trade talks could resume.
While early reports suggested the province spent $75 million, Ford said the actual cost was “a lot less” since future ad slots were cancelled once the campaign was pulled.
“Did we get our money’s worth? Oh my goodness, did we ever,” he said.
Reagan Foundation reviewing legal options
The ad featured Reagan’s original radio remarks with cinematic shots of American factories and landscapes — a creative choice Ford insists was lawful.
“He was a free trader. He hated tariffs,” Ford said. “All his speeches are in the public domain.”
However, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute disputed Ontario’s use of the audio, stating the ad “misrepresents” Reagan’s words and that the province “did not seek permission.”
The foundation says it is “reviewing legal options.”
Political backlash at home
Opposition leaders in Ontario accused Ford of jeopardizing trade relations and chasing headlines.
NDP Leader Marit Stiles said Ford “screwed up,” adding,
“He’s focused on flashy ads that boost his ego, not on protecting Ontario jobs.”
Liberal interim leader John Fraser called the ad “thoughtless.”
“What was he thinking? The premier should stay in his lane.”
Ford, however, says he consulted “almost every premier” before launching the campaign and that “Team Canada” remains united in pushing back against U.S. tariffs.
He is expected to appear on major U.S. networks — ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN — to continue making his case Monday evening.
