During a radio interview on Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford told U.S. President Donald Trump to “kiss [his] ass.”
Trump, in one of his meandering Truth Social posts, later called Ford a “flunky” and compared him unfavourably to his deceased brother and former Toronto mayor, Rob Ford.
The blistering war of words is a testament to the bad blood that’s brewing after Prime Minister Mark Carney chose to walk away from trade talks with Trump’s team, who the PM accused of adding last minute changes that made the proposed deal untenable.
Since then, Canada has vowed to hit the U.S. back with dollar-for-dollar tariffs, and Trump has threatened additional 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian vehicles, auto parts and steel,.
Premier Ford, meanwhile, threatened to cut off electricity and critical minerals to the United States.
Trump, as he often does, replied online on his Truth Social platform.
“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.
“America has been carrying Canada for decades, but no longer! The U.S.A. will always be far bigger, richer, and stronger than Canada. Without the United States, Canada couldn’t survive — It’s where they get all of their money and, because of their current bad leadership, primarily Governor Carney, and his Flunky, Ford, they will not be allowed to keep taking advantage of the United States — Their key to survival.”
Ford was asked about Trump’s post during a news conference on Monday afternoon. Despite not addressing the particulars of Trump’s post, Ford still lashed out.
“I don’t respond to a dictator like President Trump, a bully like President Trump,” he said.
“He’s the type of guy in school who would take your lunch money one day, take your toque off your head the next day and then steal your running shoes. I’m not gonna take any advice off a guy that’s the king of bankruptcies, and he’s actually taxing his own people,” he added, referring to Trump infamous financial failures connected to his past casinos.
“I’ve got skin on me like an alligator, and you think an insult from him hurts me? Well bring it on buddy, bring it on. I’ve dealt with guys like you my whole life and guess what – you all become losers because you’re a loser.”
Ford also said he spoke to PM Carney, who didn’t object to his “kiss my ass” insult directed at Trump.
“He wasn’t against that,” Ford said.
“I have a lot of real estate on my ass,” Ford added with a smile, “so he (Trump) has a lot of room to kiss my ass.”
On a more serious note, Ford said he was considering revisiting the idea of adding a surcharge to electricity that’s exported to parts of the United States — a move he previously made before changing course.
He also angered the Trump administration by airing anti-Tariff ads on U.S. television that featured a voice over by former President Ronald Reagan.
“That electricity surcharge is going to be on the table,” Ford said Monday. “I’ll hold off on the ads for now, I don’t want to escalate it anymore, but we need to fight back.”
Ford closed things out with one last jab at President Trump.
“I have more courage and more brains in my baby toe than he has in his whole body.”
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