Ontario Premier Doug Ford doubled down on saying U.S. President Donald Trump could “kiss my ass” as the two leaders exchanged blows on Monday, with Trump referring to the premier as “Flunky Ford” and the “less charismatic, intelligent” version of his late brother Rob Ford.
The insults are the latest in the fallout of the Canada-U.S. trade war, which re-escalated after trade talks between the two countries collapsed over the weekend.
Fifty per cent U.S. tariffs on about $28 billion worth of Canadians goods came into effect early Saturday. Prime Minister Mark Carney said retaliatory, dollar-for-dollar tariffs will hit the U.S. Sept. 8.
Ford first made the comment on Toronto radio station Newstalk 1010, saying the U.S. president can “kiss my ass” in response to his tariff threats.
The premier later reiterated the comment at a news conference in Hamilton while vowing to protect the “jobs and paycheques” of Ontario workers. He was joined by Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy.
WATCH | Torontonians react as Canada-U.S. trade war escalates:
As Canada-U.S. trade war escalates, some Toronto residents say they’ll ‘buy Canadian’
Fifty per cent U.S. tariffs on a variety of Canadian goods came into effect early Saturday. As the Canada-U.S. trade war escalates, Toronto residents share how they’re feeling about the tariffs — with some saying they’ll be buying Canadian.
Trump took aim at Ford in a Truth Social post during the premier’s news conference Monday afternoon.
He described Ford’s commentary as “bluster” and referred to both Ford and Carney as “clowns” and bad leaders.
When asked by a CBC reporter to react to the post, Ford said he won’t respond to “a dictator like President Trump.”
“He’s the type of guy in school that would take your lunch money one day, take your toque off your head the next day and then steal your running shoes,” Ford said.
“I’m not going to take any advice from a guy that’s the king of bankruptcies.”
During the news conference Ford also said that “everything is on the table” when it comes to retaliation measures
He told The Associated Press earlier Monday that he was willing to cut off electricity and critical minerals to the U.S. as the trade war drags on. Ontario sends power to about 1.5 million people in Michigan, New York and Minnesota.
Trump promises new tariffs
Before Trump’s online attack on Ford, the U.S. president had escalated the trade war with a post to Truth Social Monday that slammed Canada for “ripping off the United States” and announced that starting Jan. 1, 2027, the U.S. will increase tariffs on Canadian automobiles, car parts and steel to 50 per cent.
Currently, the levy on Canadian steel is already 50 per cent, while the levy on car parts and automobiles is 25, according to the Canadian government’s website .
Ford said Carney has his “full support” in his decision to walk away from Canada-U.S. trade negotiations. Other premiers have also largely backed Carney’s decision to reject the trade deal.
Earlier Monday, Ford told Toronto radio station Newstalk 1010: “We need to throw everything in the kitchen sink at them. He’s arrogant. He’s cocky.”
WATCH | Ford voices support for Carney’s decision to walk away from trade deal:
Premier Ford says suspended trade talks avoided a ‘bad deal’ for steel, auto sectors
Ontario Premier Doug Ford slammed the proposed trade agreement with the United States as a ‘bad deal’ for the province’s steel and auto sectors. Ford said he supports Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to suspend negotiations and that the province will help workers and businesses who now face a 50% tariff from the U.S.Opposition parties demand Ford recall legislature
In the midst of the trade deal fallout and Ford’s news conference, the Ontario NDP and Liberals called on the premier to immediately recall the legislature to take urgent action on U.S. tariff relief.
In a news release Monday, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said it is “our duty as elected officials to immediately get to work in the fight against Donald Trump’s inexcusable and dangerous tariffs.”
Stiles called on the Ford government to take on a number of retaliatory measures, including cancelling any government contracts with U.S. businesses and prohibiting any new AI data centre agreements that “benefit U.S. companies.”
John Fraser, interim leader of the Ontario Liberals, said Ford’s announcement in Hamilton “wasn’t a plan.”
“There were no new measures. Not even a mention of direct income or benefit support for workers who could lose their jobs or house,” he said in a news release.
Fraser also said Ford’s comments to Trump resembled a “WWE smackdown” and they aren’t “what Ontario families need.”
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner also called for a return to the legislature “so that all parties can work together to protect Ontario jobs, workers and companies,” in an emailed statement Monday.
During his new conference, Ford did announce that the province would “immediately” expand eligibility for its Protect Ontario Financing Program, which provides emergency funding to businesses facing “significant tariff-related disruptions,” according to its website.
Ford said Carney has his ‘full support’ in his decision to walk away from Canada-U.S. trade negotiations. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)Ford calls on support from federal government
Ford did not sugarcoat Monday that the trade war would come with economic pain and said “all levels of government” will need to work together to “get through this fight.”
In addition to calling on municipal leaders for co-operation, he called on the federal government to “step up” with “major support and regulatory change,” including:
Eliminating federal greenhouse gas emissions standards for Canadian-made vehicles.Exempting tariff-impacted sectors from federal emissions performance standards.Investing significantly in auto, steel, and manufacturing industries.Targeting “deep red states” in counter tariff response.
CBC News reached out to Global Affairs Canada for comment.
In an interview with CBC’s Power and Politics Monday, Minister of Canada-U.S. Trade Dominic LeBlanc said “further measures” to protect Canadian workers and industries will be announced “this week.”
WATCH | Former World Trade Organization ambassador on what’s next in the trade war:
Former Canadian ambassador to the WTO Stephen de Boer on what’s next in the U.S.-Canada trade war
Get the latest on CBCNews.ca, the CBC News App, and CBC News Network for breaking news and analysisCanada negotiated in good faith: expert
Daniel Tisch, CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, said tariff retaliation from Canada has to be “surgical,” such as targeting American products that have a clear Canadian alternative readily available.
“The reality is the Canadian government negotiated with a good faith that was not returned,” Tisch told CBC Radio’s Metro Morning Monday.
“We’re dealing with somebody in the White House who doesn’t believe in win-win outcomes. But at the same time, that’s the foundation, as we know, of every business relationship,” he said.
Despite the failed trade deal, Tisch said he is optimistic Canada will “get through this dark time,” noting that Canada, including Ontario, has led the U.S. in job growth and unlike some dire predictions, the country’s economy didn’t enter a recession.
“I still like our odds and I still believe that with the right collaboration between business and government we can actually make a positive difference.”