This week something very surprising happened on U.S. television. A long dead president suddenly became the face of a new fight between America and Canada.
Ontario, the largest province in Canada, spent 75 million dollars on ads across U.S. TV channels. The main voice in the ad was Ronald Reagan.
He warned that tariffs hurt workers and shut down businesses. The message was clearly against Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on Canadian steel, cars, and more.
After watching this, Trump got very angry and he stopped all ongoing trade talks with Canada.
Key Takeaways
• Ontario used Ronald Reagan’s old speech in a new ad against Trump tariffs
• Trump stopped all trade negotiations with Canada right away
• The fight could make cars, homes, and appliances more costly
• Both sides have history of using tariffs in different ways
• North American economy could face a new trade problem
What The Reagan Ad Said
The 60 second ad used clips from Reagan’s 1987 radio speech. In that speech he warned that high tariffs can look patriotic for a short time. But later they can cause big problems.
He said markets shrink, businesses close, and millions lose jobs. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he placed the ads mainly in Republican states to send a loud message.
Trump’s Reaction
On October 23, Trump posted on Truth Social. He wrote that Canada used a fake ad with Reagan. He called this behavior wrong.
He also linked the ad to a case in the Supreme Court about his tariffs. The Reagan Presidential Foundation also said that Ontario did not show the full context of Reagan’s views on trade.
Was The Ad Fake Or Not?
Here is one quick listicle showing the difference between claims and facts:
| Claim | Reality |
|---|---|
| Reagan opposed big tariffs | True. He said this in the speech used in the ad |
| Reagan never used tariffs | False. He used strong tariffs on Japan in 1987 |
| Ad showed full views | Not fully. It skipped parts about targeted tariffs |
So the ad did use real Reagan words. But it did not show everything.
How This Impacts People
This trade fight is not just politics. It affects prices in every home. Canadian steel and lumber will cost more. This means more expensive cars and homes for U.S. buyers.
Canada has already added tariffs on U.S. food items like orange juice and peanut butter. Any softening in tariffs is on hold. And this situation can last till 2026.
Online Reactions
On social media, users picked sides very fast. Hashtags like #ReaganVsTariffs and #CanadaTradeWar had thousands of posts in the last week.
Many praised Reagan’s message. Others made fun of Trump’s angry response. One viral video compared the ad with Reagan’s full speech and crossed 100 thousand views. Many users wrote that Reagan is now arguing from the grave.
The Strange Twist
Reagan always talked about free trade. But he also acted tough when he thought foreign countries were unfair. He used big tariffs on Japanese electronics.
He also kept quotas on sugar and textiles. Trump supporters say this proves Reagan would agree with them. Canada says Reagan never punished a friendly country in such a blanket way.
What Happens Next
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is now traveling to Asia. There is no trade deal with the U.S. in sight. Trump wants Canada to come back first.
People in both countries will now feel higher prices. Reagan’s voice has moved this issue beyond economics. It has now become a cultural and political battle. We are now seeing a test of how strong the North American trade bond really is.
Trade fights normally spread fast. And the bill mostly comes to the common family. Many are asking a simple question. Will this be the start of a bigger trade problem in the region
