Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday that Ronald Reagan would be "throwing up" over President Donald Trump’s trade policies, threatening to cut off electricity and critical minerals to the United States if the escalating Canada-U.S. trade conflict intensifies.
Ford asserted that Trump has underestimated Canadians' willingness to absorb economic hardship rather than concede to U.S. pressure.
“He underestimates Canada. We’re all in,” Ford stated. “Up here, we’re at a fever pitch, everyone’s in for an economic war. They know they’re going to have to sacrifice.”
Ford mentioned that Trump had "declared war, economic war against his closest friend and ally" before referencing Reagan, whose opposition to tariffs Ford previously highlighted in a television advertising campaign targeting Americans.
Ford pointed out that Trump keeps a portrait of Reagan near his desk. Reagan was a staunch supporter of free trade and repeatedly cautioned that protectionist tariffs could provoke retaliation and harm American consumers and workers.
“He’d be throwing up on him from the picture if he knew what was going on, spinning around in his grave right now,” Ford said. “He should maybe take that picture off the wall and move it somewhere else. Because right now, Ronald Reagan would be disgusted with President Trump.”
Ford's remarks followed Prime Minister Mark Carney's withdrawal from trade negotiations with the Trump administration late Friday, citing Washington’s excessive demands for tariff relief. The United States imposed 50% tariffs on approximately $20 billion in Canadian goods on Saturday, while Carney announced dollar-for-dollar retaliation starting September 8.
Trump escalated the disagreement again on Monday by threatening a 50% tariff on Canadian automobiles, auto parts, and steel beginning next year.
“Canada has been ripping off the United States of America for years,” Trump wrote on social media Monday morning. Criticizing what he termed Canada’s “ridiculously high tariffs” on American farmers, Trump added: “Not sustainable, and NOT ANYMORE!”
Ford threatens critical minerals and electricity
Ford indicated that "everything is on the table" if the dispute worsens, including severing electricity and critical mineral supplies from Ontario. He also suggested Canada consider using oil and potash as leverage.
“I’ll cut them off,” Ford said regarding critical minerals. “You won’t get a grain of sand out of Ontario.”
Critical minerals are increasingly vital to U.S. national security and manufacturing. The Pentagon has sought more secure supplies of minerals used in military aircraft, missiles, munitions, and electronics as Washington attempts to lessen dependence on China, which dominates the mining or processing of several strategically important minerals.
Ford specifically mentioned high-grade nickel shipped to the United States and uranium refined in Ontario.
“What would they do without the high-grade nickel that we ship down to the U.S.?” Ford asked.
Ford suggested Canada should consider increasingly severe retaliation if Trump continues targeting Canadian industries, including oil and potash, while Ontario could raise electricity prices or cease power transmission south.
“We power 1.5 million homes and businesses,” Ford said. “Everything’s on the table. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
If Trump persists in attempting to dismantle Canadian manufacturing, Ford warned, “he better have a pack of batteries.”
Ford has previously utilized electricity as leverage. During an earlier phase of the dispute, Ontario imposed a 25% surcharge on electricity exported to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. Trump responded by threatening to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum before both sides backed down.
Auto industry becomes a central battleground
Ford accused Trump not just of seeking a better trade deal but of aiming to hollow out Canadian industries and relocate production south.
Ford claimed that Trump intends to make Canada a vassal state.
“He wants to bleed out every single sector and bring them down to the U.S.,” Ford said.
The auto sector is particularly significant to Ontario, which serves as the center of Canada’s vehicle manufacturing industry. Plants and suppliers in Ontario are closely integrated with factories in Michigan and other U.S. states, with parts routinely crossing the border multiple times during production.
Automakers such as Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis operate major assembly plants in Ontario, and the broader supply chain supports tens of thousands of jobs. Trump’s new threat of a 50% tariff on Canadian vehicles and parts places that sector directly at the core of the escalating dispute.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated Monday that “the only reason Canada has auto production in the first place” was due to the 1960s Auto Pact, under which Canada leveraged access to its market to encourage vehicle production north of the border.
“If he thinks the Canadian people are going to roll over and just continue buying American-made vehicles, it’s not going to happen,” Ford said.
Ford also revealed that he opposed the preliminary agreement Carney was considering before Canada withdrew from negotiations.
“I wasn’t supporting the deal,” Ford said.
Ford stated he was unwilling to reinstate American liquor on Ontario store shelves as part of an accord and had been prepared to publicly reject the proposed deal.
“I wasn’t going to put the booze back on the shelves,” Ford said. “I was ready to go out there and call a press conference ... and say I’m not buckling over.”
Ford noted that he understood Washington sought language late in negotiations that would restrict Canada's capacity to negotiate trade agreements with other nations without U.S. approval. Carney has deemed this demand unacceptable and an issue of Canadian sovereignty.
“Who does he think he is?” Ford said about Trump. “You gotta be kidding.”
Reagan discussion resurfaces
Ford’s comments regarding Reagan revived a previous conflict with Trump. Last year, Ontario paid for U.S. television advertisements featuring excerpts from a 1987 Reagan address warning that tariffs could incite retaliation and trade wars.
Trump accused Ontario of misrepresenting Reagan and abruptly terminated trade negotiations with Canada. Ford later agreed to pause the campaign so talks could resume.
“He doesn’t respect anyone,” Ford said.
Despite the increasingly hostile rhetoric, however, Ford maintained that Canada should remain open to negotiation.
“I never believe in walking away from the table,” Ford said. “Continue negotiating and see where we go.”