Prime Minister Apologizes After Ontario Ad Spurs Tariffs

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he privately apologized to U.S. President Donald Trump over an Ontario-produced anti-tariff ad that used excerpts from a 1987 Ronald Reagan speech and said he had advised Ontario Premier Doug Ford not to run it. The ad aired during the World Series, was defended by Ford, and was pulled after two airings. Trump said he was “offended,” called the spot “fake” (suggesting it might have been AI), halted trade talks with Canada and announced an additional 10% tariff on Canadian goods. Carney said he apologized because he is responsible for the Canada–U.S. relationship and sought to cool rhetoric, drawing mixed reactions at home. The dispute has briefly derailed negotiations and sharpened tensions between provincial and federal leaders over how to respond to U.S. tariff policy.