The Ronald Reagan Foundation condemned the use of his audio recording without consent and noted that its content was distorted through selective editing. In the original address from 1987, Reagan emphasized the importance of "free but fair trade," explaining the introduction of tariffs against Japan, but not criticizing U.S. tariff policy.
The Foundation also stated that the ad omitted important details and altered the meaning of the statements, despite the accuracy of the quotes themselves. They are considering the possibility of filing a lawsuit.
On the Truth Social platform, Trump accused Canada of attempting to interfere in the Supreme Court's affairs, where the legality of his tariff decisions is being reviewed: "The Canadian ad is fraudulent... Due to their inappropriate behavior, all trade negotiations with Canada are halted."
Earlier, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the allocation of $75 million for advertising initiatives in the U.S. The ad was published on social media platform X on October 16 and contains Reagan's words about how tariffs can harm American workers and consumers.
This is the second time Trump has suspended trade negotiations with Canada; he previously made a similar statement in June after Canada imposed a digital services tax, which was later repealed.
These events unfold against the backdrop of legal proceedings: in August, the U.S. federal Appeals Court ruled that many tariffs imposed by Trump's executive orders were illegal. Nevertheless, the administration has appealed to the Supreme Court.
