Doug Ford says Trump 'needs to be stopped' while discussing tariffs on CNN
Ontario Premier Doug Ford appeared on CNN Monday morning to provide a reality check for the American people as Donald Trump’s dreaded tariffs on goods from the north came into effect.
Reprising his role as Mr. Canada in the face of the economically disastrous levies — and amid somewhat of a lack of leadership at the federal level — Ford reminded our neighbours below the border how impactful this brash move will be for them, too.
“I apologize to the American people. It’s not you, it’s your president that’s causing this problem,” Ford said, going on to reiterate the strong bond the two nations have boasted and mutually benefitted from for decades.
“This is not right. We love America, we love the people and the president needs to be stopped, simple as that.”
He also implored U.S. residents to reach out to their various levels of government to oppose the action, which will have serious consequences for both economies — something that Trump seems to be forgetting.
Have to say it but Doug Ford on CNN looking good and speaking even better re: the BS of Trump’s tariff’s. #TrumpTariffs #cdnpoli
— Stephen (is really) Near 🇨🇦🖖🎭 (@SNear23) March 4, 2025
“We’re the number one customer in the world to the United States. We had a great relationship. I want to continue on with that relationship, but I will use every tool in our toolbox to send a message to President Trump that this is the wrong thing to do.”
Many Ontarians online seem proud of how Ford handled himself and represented the province and nation at large as we grapple with the new 25 per cent tax on most Canadian imports, with the noted exception of “energy or energy resources,” which will be slapped with a 10 per cent tariff.
The rest of Doug Ford’s words for Americans, in full
“President Trump ran on a mandate lower costs, to create more jobs. This is going to do exactly the opposite. The auto sector: We buy over 400 per cent more autos than Mexico and 200 per cent more than anywhere in the world. You know, he put up a smoke screen and keeps moving the goal posts… well, the market is speaking loud and clear, the market is going to go downhill faster than the American bobsled team.
“We’re going to continue seeing, in the U.S., plants close, assembly lines shut down, the auto sector… they may last five, maybe eight days before the parts that go back and forth across the border eight times. This is unnecessary, and we do have to retaliate. And I apologize to the American people, it’s not you, it’s your president that’s causing this problem.
“We’re the number one customer in the world to the United States. We had a great relationship, I want to continue on with that relationship. But I will use every tool in our toolbox to send a message to President Trump that this is the wrong thing to do. When Warren Buffett comes out and says ‘this is this is basically insanity,’ you have to listen to someone like Warren Buffett.
“We have the lowest debt in the G7. The United States has more debt than anyone. He wants to come and put a tax break through, he’s relying on two congress people. He loses two people? That’s it, these tax breaks aren’t going in. He’s doing this on the backs of the American people.
“He’s going to create job losses, inflation is going up, the market’s dropping. Gas prices are going up, groceries are going up, for what? We have a very fair trading balance. And if we exclude the energy, the oil that we ship down 4.3 million barrels a day to keep cars going, the U.S. has a $55 billion surplus on everything else, on manufacturing. And I’m fine with that, $55 billion is fine, but we’re the number one customer to 28 states.
“I’ve directed our office to take off all the alcohol, we’re the largest purchaser of alcohol in the world. We buy from 35 states, 3,600 products, over a billion dollars, they’re coming off [the shelves]. We directed our team to pull off the $30 billion of contracts and not use any American companies.
“And again, I apologize to the American people. But the red states, the people have to start calling their senators, governors and congress people to stop this insanity that one person is causing.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford live on CNN this morning to talk about Trump’s Tariffs on Canada – Full Video pic.twitter.com/5RwTSnwQEY
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“No one knows what the ask is, it depends on what he wakes up and eats in the morning, and that changes. You know, the auto sector, you can’t unscramble an egg that’s been made since the 1960s in the auto pack and expect plants to just open up. We buy as many cars as we sell down down to the U.S.
“It’s been working. It’s a great, great system that we have right now with all the auto sectors. But it will only last eight to maybe 10 days at the max, and then you’re going to see auto plants being shut down. I wish we knew what the president wanted. We need to sit down and move forward on the USMCA and put this behind us.
“Canadians are absolutely livid, they’re furious because we look at the United States as our family, we’re one big family. We’ve stood shoulder to shoulder in wars and every other crisis there is, we love the American people. But unfortunately, the President has gone sideways on ourselves.
“Ontario powers 1.5 million homes and businesses in New York, in Michigan, in Minnesota. I’ve talked to all three governors. I want to ship more electricity. I want to send more critical minerals. But I will not hesitate to use every tool in our toolbox to protect Ontarians and Canadians across the board.
“I’ve never seen patriotism run so wild across our country, right down to the grocery aisles. People refuse to buy American products. This is not right. We love America, we love the people and the president needs to be stopped, simple as that.”