Ontario Premier Doug Ford has entered a vicious war of words with U.S. President Donald Trump, calling him a “loser” during a fiery news conference Monday afternoon.
Moments before Ford started speaking, Trump posted a lengthy message to the premier on his Truth Social platform, saying he was the “unimpressive brother” of former mayor Rob Ford.
“Lots of ‘bluster’ from Doug Ford, who is the Premier of the Canadian Province of Ontario, but who is better known as the less charismatic, intelligent, and overall unimpressive brother of the late, great, Rob Ford,” Trump wrote around 2 p.m. on Monday.
“Governor Carney, and his Flunky, Ford … will not be allowed to keep taking advantage of the United States — Their key to survival. Remember, much of the Electricity, Oil, and Gas that Canada gets is transported through the U.S.A. Someone should get these clowns to ‘fall in line’ or, the consequences for Canada will be far WORSE!”
Speaking in Hamilton, Ford hit back at the president repeatedly, suggesting he would campaign against the Republican president in the mid-terms if he could.
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“I don’t respond to a dictator like President Trump, a bully like President Trump,” Ford told reporters. “I’m not going to take any advice off a guy that’s the king of bankruptcies.”
The war of words between the two leaders comes after trade talks collapsed late Friday evening, when Prime Minister Mark Carney recalled negotiators to Ottawa.
At one point, a deal looked possible. Although Canadian officials had urged some caution, Trump had declared, “we have a deal.”
The collapse of talks triggered 50 per cent tariffs from the United States on billions of dollars of goods, levies Canada says it will match “dollar-for-dollar” in early September.
Carney said over the weekend trade talks fell apart over disagreements about how to handle tariffs on trucks, Canadian language rules and restrictions on which countries it could strike trade deals with.
Monday morning saw Trump escalate his threats against Canada, suggesting he could levy even more tariffs.
“On January First, 2027, Tariffs on all Cars, Trucks, both large and small, Automotive Parts, and Steel, will be increased to 50 per cent. Build in the U.S. and there are ZERO TARIFFS,” he posted to Truth Social Monday morning.
“Canada has been ripping off the United States of America for years. Their ridiculously high tariffs on our Farmers and farm products has made life impossible for these great American Patriots, and has long created a 60 Billion Dollar Deficit between our two Countries. Not sustainable, and NOT ANYMORE!”
He also added that “Canada will be treated like a State no longer!”
— with files from Global News’ Adriana Fallico
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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