Doug Ford ‘got carried away’ trading insults with Donald Trump, promises ‘different approach’

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he 'got carried away' trading insults with U.S. President Donald Trump and vowed a new approach. Photo by Peter J. Thompson/National Post

Article content

Article content

“Things got a little heated, Joe, yesterday between both of us. He was throwing insults,” Ford told host Joe Mathieu on Bloomberg Television. “And I hit back. But I think it’d be more productive if the prime minister and the president sit down and have a fair deal for everyone.”

Article content

Article content

The U.S. imposed 50 per cent tariffs on hundreds of Canadian products Saturday after trade talks collapsed, prompting Prime Minister Mark Carney to announce hours later that Canada will impose counter-tariffs. So Trump threatened on Monday to double tariffs on Canadian autos to 50 per cent.

Article content

Upon hearing that, Ford told a radio host that the president could “kiss my ass as far as I’m concerned.”

Article content

Following those comments, Trump directed personal insults at Ford, calling him a “flunky,” and later said the U.S. would consider renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America.

Article content

Article content

Article content

“It got carried away. And I’m not innocent by any means,” Ford said. “But I’m going to take a different approach. I’m going to move forward.”

Article content

Article content

Earlier Tuesday, Canada announced a plan to double its existing counter-tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum items to 50 per cent. American-produced milk, furniture, clothing and apparel will also have new duties applied, as will video-game consoles, electronics and a host of other products.

Article content

Ford said he wasn’t opposed to further retaliation if necessary, but stopped short of endorsing cutting off electricity to the U.S.

Article content

“I wouldn’t say cut it off, but surcharges for sure,” he said, adding that he’d prefer to send more electricity to the U.S. instead.

Article content

In 2025, in the early weeks of the trade war, the premier added a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity sent to three U.S. states for one day before reversing the decision so trade talks could continue.

Article content

Ford leads Canada’s most populous province and has become a central figure in the trade war. As the country’s manufacturing heartland, Ontario has been heavily affected by U.S. economic aggression. The province’s liquor agency is one of the world’s largest alcohol buyers, and Ford was among the first provincial premiers to remove U.S. booze from shelves.

Article content

The premier’s combative style has repeatedly caused friction with the Trump administration — most notably when the president pulled the plug on talks last year after Ontario ran an anti-tariff ad in the U.S.

Article content

— With assistance from Joe Mathieu.

Article content

Article content