Ford calls Trump a ‘loser’ as trade war turns personal

The U.S.-Canada trade relationship descended into a bitter personal feud on Monday as Ontario Premier Doug Ford and President Donald Trump exchanged barbs, Vice President JD Vance referred to Canada as a U.S. state, and new tariff threats piled onto an already fractured economic partnership. The escalation followed the collapse of bilateral trade talks last week, with both sides blaming the other for the breakdown.

War of Words

Ford set the tone during a Monday morning radio interview, telling Trump to "kiss my ass." Trump responded on Truth Social by calling Ford a "flunky" and the "less charismatic, intelligent, and overall unimpressive brother" of late Toronto mayor Rob Ford. At a news conference in Hamilton later Monday, Ford did not back down, calling Trump "a dictator," "a bully," and "the king of bankruptcies."toronto.citynews

"I've dealt with guys like you my whole life and guess what — you all become losers because you're a loser," Ford said. He added that Prime Minister Mark Carney did not object to the crude insult directed at Trump: "He wasn't against that."toronto.citynews

Separately, Vance drew laughter — and diplomatic ire — at a political event in Brewer, Maine, when he called Canada "a state" before catching himself. "Sorry, Freudian slip. That was actually an accident," he said, before going on to accuse Canada of applying "ridiculous tariffs" on Maine products and serving as a "backdoor" for Chinese goods.globalnews

Tariffs Tighten

The rhetorical fireworks followed real economic pain. U.S. tariffs of 50 per cent on $28 billion worth of Canadian exports — covering goods from cement to wine to hockey pucks — took effect Saturday after talks broke down Friday night. Trump announced Monday that an additional 25 per cent tariff on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts, and steel would bring the total rate on those goods to 50 per cent by January 1, 2027.finance.yahoo+2

Canada has vowed to match U.S. tariffs dollar-for-dollar beginning September 8, targeting steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, and electronics. Ford threatened to impose a surcharge on electricity exports to the United States and restrict access to critical minerals.Forbes+3

Stakes and Strategy

Carney, who suspended talks Friday, accused the Trump administration of introducing last-minute demands including restrictions on Canada's ability to sign trade deals with other countries and requirements to weaken French-language protections. U.S. officials offered a different account; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Canada "was offered quite a good deal" and accused Carney of reverting to an "anti-American, anti-Trump platform."finance.yahoo+1

The standoff threatens roughly $380 billion in annual cross-border trade, including nearly $50 billion in Canadian auto exports to the United States. Ford, closing his press conference with one last jab, offered Trump a parting thought: "I have more courage and more brains in my baby toe than he has in his whole body."yahoo+1