Ontario Premier Doug Ford said President Donald Trump can "kiss my ass" following threats of heavy tariffs on Canadian exports.
The confrontation signals a sharp escalation in trade tensions between the two neighbors, potentially jeopardizing the integrated North American automotive and steel supply chains.
Ford made the remarks on Monday during a visit to Hamilton, Ontario [1]. The outburst followed a post from Trump on Truth Social, where the U.S. president threatened to impose tariffs of 50% [2] on Canadian auto and steel products. While some reports indicate the threat was for rates up to 50% [3], Ford reacted to the prospect of the flat rate [2].
During a televised interview with CTV's Bill Carroll, Ford said Trump was arrogant and cocky [1]. He said Canada will throw everything in the kitchen sink at the U.S. president in response to the trade pressure [1].
"If he wants to slap a 50% tariff on our auto and steel, he can kiss my ass," Ford said [2].
The premier's comments come as Hamilton, a major hub for Canadian steel and automotive manufacturing, faces the direct threat of these import levies [4]. The tariffs would target two of Ontario's most critical industrial sectors, affecting thousands of jobs, and billions in trade value.
Ford held a news conference in Hamilton earlier on Monday to address the burgeoning trade war [4]. Although some reports placed the interview in Toronto, other records confirm the premier was in Hamilton for the day's events [1, 4].
Ford did not specify which trade mechanisms Canada would use to retaliate, but he said the province and the country would not be intimidated by the U.S. administration's approach to trade negotiations.
“"He can kiss my ass."”
This public rift between a key provincial leader and the U.S. president suggests a breakdown in diplomatic decorum that usually governs Canada-US trade disputes. Because Ontario is the primary engine of Canada's automotive sector, Ford's aggressive stance reflects the high economic stakes for the province, which cannot afford significant disruptions to its export-led industrial base.
