Ontario to Pull Tariff Ad That Angered Trump — But It Will Stay Up for World Series Games

The government of Ontario has agreed to suspend a controversial advertisement criticizing U.S. tariffs — but not before it airs one final time during this weekend’s World Series games, which feature Canada’s Toronto Blue Jays. The decision follows a diplomatic clash between Ontario Premier Doug Ford and U.S. President Donald Trump, who halted ongoing trade talks with Canada over the ad’s message.

Ad Sparks Diplomatic Turbulence

The 60-second television commercial, commissioned by the Ontario provincial government, features the voice of late U.S. President Ronald Reagan speaking out against tariffs. It began airing on American networks earlier this week, drawing the ire of President Trump, who denounced the ad as “fake” and accused Canadian officials of misrepresenting Reagan’s position on trade.

Trump reacted swiftly, announcing on his social media platform Truth Social that he was “terminating” ongoing trade negotiations with Canada. “CANADA CHEATED AND GOT CAUGHT!!!” Trump wrote in an Oct. 24 post. “They fraudulently took a big ad saying that Ronald Reagan did not like tariffs, when actually he LOVED TARIFFS FOR OUR COUNTRY AND ITS NATIONAL SECURITY.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded by confirming that the ad would continue to air through Games 1 and 2 of the World Series on October 24 and 25, before being pulled the following Monday to allow trade talks to resume.

“Our intention was to start a conversation about the economic impact of tariffs on workers and businesses,” Ford said in a statement. “We’ve achieved that goal — the ad has reached American audiences at the highest levels.”

Ford added that his decision to pause the ad came after consulting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has been seeking to de-escalate tensions and reopen trade negotiations with the United States.

The World Series Connection

This year’s World Series holds special significance for Canadians, marking the first time in 33 years that the Toronto Blue Jays have reached the championship. The province’s decision to continue airing the ad through the opening games is widely seen as a symbolic assertion of Canadian economic independence — and a bid to leverage global attention during one of the most-watched sporting events in North America.

For many viewers, the ad’s appearance during the Blue Jays’ matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers represents more than a marketing decision; it reflects the broader tension between Canada’s trade policy and Trump’s protectionist economic agenda.

What the Reagan Ad Actually Said

The ad in question includes snippets from a 1987 radio address delivered by Ronald Reagan, in which the former U.S. president warned about the long-term dangers of protectionist trade policies. In the original speech, Reagan had recently imposed limited tariffs on certain Japanese imports but used his remarks to caution against broader restrictions.

“When someone says, ‘Let’s impose tariffs on foreign imports,’ it looks like they’re doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs,” Reagan said at the time. “And sometimes, for a short while, it works — but only for a short time.”

While every line used in the ad comes directly from Reagan’s speech, Ontario’s editing choices — splicing five separate sentences together — sparked criticism from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, which said the ad “mispresents” the broader context of Reagan’s remarks and was produced without authorization.

The White House also objected to the omission of one key line from the original address: “Our commitment to free trade is also a commitment to fair trade.” Trump and his aides argue that this phrase supports their policy of tariffs as tools for enforcing fairness, while critics note that Reagan’s overall message was explicitly anti-tariff.

Indeed, Reagan stated clearly in 1987, “Imposing such tariffs or trade barriers and restrictions of any kind are steps that I am loath to take.”

Trump’s Broader Trade Agenda

President Trump has made tariffs a central component of his second-term economic platform, positioning them as essential to defending U.S. manufacturing and reducing dependency on foreign imports. Since August 1, the administration has imposed a sweeping 35% tariff on Canadian goods not covered under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), sparking frustration across Canadian industries.

Trump has framed the tariffs as a matter of national security, citing the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify unilateral trade restrictions. However, the move has faced multiple legal challenges in the United States, and the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on November 5 regarding the scope of presidential authority under the act.

Lower courts have already ruled that Trump exceeded his powers, noting that the IEEPA was historically used for imposing sanctions on foreign adversaries, not allies. The president, undeterred, has hinted that he may personally attend the Supreme Court hearing, calling the case “one of the most important decisions for America’s future.”

The Canadian Response

Prime Minister Mark Carney has walked a diplomatic tightrope, balancing the need to maintain Canada’s trade relationship with the U.S. while avoiding escalation. Appearing alongside Ford at an energy facility in Ontario earlier this week, Carney reiterated that Canada’s focus remains on “constructive engagement” and fair trade.

Canadian officials have privately expressed frustration over the U.S. reaction, noting that the ad’s purpose was not to attack Trump but to highlight the broader economic risks of tariffs. However, given the heated U.S. political climate, even a nuanced message has proven politically explosive.

Cultural and Political Symbolism

For observers, the controversy surrounding the Ontario ad underscores how deeply intertwined politics, economics, and culture have become in North American relations. By invoking Reagan — a conservative icon revered by many in the U.S. — Ontario sought to appeal directly to American audiences who value free-market principles.

Yet Trump’s response reveals how interpretations of Reagan’s legacy continue to divide conservatives themselves. While Reagan favored open markets and limited protectionism, Trump’s economic nationalism redefines patriotism in terms of industrial self-sufficiency and trade rebalancing.

The timing of the ad — coinciding with Canada’s World Series appearance — only amplified its impact. What might have been a niche policy message transformed into a viral geopolitical talking point, reaching millions of viewers and triggering an international political reaction.

What Happens Next

With the ad set to be paused on Monday, Canadian and U.S. officials are expected to reconvene for trade discussions later in the week. Analysts suggest that the pause is a temporary truce rather than a resolution, as tensions over tariffs and trade fairness remain at the center of Trump’s agenda.

For Ontario, the controversy may have achieved its intended purpose: sparking a continental conversation about the costs of protectionism. For Washington, it is yet another reminder that even close allies can find themselves in public disagreement when politics, pride, and policy collide.

As both nations look ahead to renewed negotiations, one thing is certain — the debate over tariffs and free trade is far from over.

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