Carney says he apologized to Trump over anti-tariff ad

Carney Apologizes to Trump Over Anti-Tariff Ad

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that he apologized to U.S. President Donald Trump after a controversial commercial criticizing tariffs caused diplomatic tensions and disrupted U.S.-Canada trade negotiations.

Background of the Ad

The advertisement used archival footage of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan condemning trade barriers. It aired during baseball’s World Series and was intended to influence American viewers. The campaign provoked strong reactions from Washington and led to a 10 percent tariff increase on Canadian exports.

Carney’s Apology

“I did apologize to the president,” Carney told reporters after attending the Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea.

Carney explained that he had already offered a private apology to Trump during a dinner earlier in the week and clarified that he never supported the ad’s broadcast.

“I told Ford I did not want to go forward with the ad,” said Carney, referring to Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Reactions from Trump and Ford

“I have a very good relationship with Carney. I like him a lot, but what they did was wrong. He apologized for what they did with the commercial,” Trump stated.

Despite the controversy, Premier Doug Ford defended the ad, saying it had successfully captured American attention.

“You know why President Trump is so upset right now? It was working, it woke up the whole country,” Ford said.

Summary

Carney’s apology highlights the fragility of U.S.-Canada trade relations and the risks political advertising can pose to diplomatic cooperation.

more

POLITICO.eu POLITICO.eu — 2025-11-02

More News