Politics makes strange bedfellows — and sometimes stranger apologies. President Donald Trump revealed Friday aboard Air Force One that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney personally apologized for a controversial anti-tariff advertisement that featured none other than Ronald Reagan speaking out against protectionist policies. The ad, produced not by Carney’s Liberal Party but by Ontario’s Conservative-led government, was intended to pressure the U.S. in trade talks. But for Trump, it crossed a line — not only politically, but historically.
“He was very nice,” Trump said of Carney. “He apologized for what they did with the commercial because it was a false commercial.” The president didn’t mince words, adding, “You know, it was the exact opposite. Ronald Reagan loved tariffs.”
PRESIDENT Trump just now said that he is NOT resuming negotiations with Canada, even after Mark Carney APOLOGIZED for the anti tariff ad 😅 pic.twitter.com/ao5x53clKp
— Melissa 🇨🇦 (@MelissaLMRogers) October 31, 2025
That’s a bold claim, especially considering the content of the ad. In the commercial, Reagan is heard cautioning against tariffs: “Over the long run, such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer,” he says. “High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries… and millions of people lose their jobs.”
The message, to many, was clear: Reagan’s own words were being used to critique Trump-era trade policies. But Trump flatly rejected that interpretation. In his view, the ad not only misrepresented Reagan but served as a disruptive tactic that derailed trade discussions altogether. “No,” he said when asked if negotiations would resume. “But I have a very good relationship. I like him a lot.”
What makes this incident especially ironic is that the ad wasn’t even the product of Carney’s political allies. It was a move from Ontario’s Conservative government — a domestic disagreement broadcast internationally. That nuance, however, didn’t change the impact. The Reagan footage was presented with surgical precision: the Gipper himself, warning against the very economic strategies Trump embraced throughout his administration.
The Government of Ontario just spent $75 million on a pro-trade/anti-tariff ad starring… Ronald Reagan. pic.twitter.com/uD5wJgZEzv
— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) October 15, 2025
Still, Trump insists Reagan was misunderstood. Though Reagan did support free trade in theory, his administration wasn’t shy about deploying tariffs in practice — particularly against unfair trade practices from Japan and others. In that sense, Trump’s argument isn’t without precedent. But Reagan’s approach was tactical and measured. Trump’s has been unapologetically aggressive.
As for the apology? It was personal, not political. Carney may have extended a hand in friendship, but trade negotiations remain frozen — a reminder that even in diplomacy, words carry weight, especially when borrowed from a president revered by both sides.
