Ontario Premier Doug Ford is facing backlash for threatening the American people with economic retaliation in response to President Donald Trump’s new auto tariffs. Ford’s aggressive posture comes as Trump moves to protect the U.S. from ongoing problems at the northern border, including illegal migration and drug trafficking.
Instead of joining efforts to secure the border, Ford delivered a message that seemed more like a temper tantrum than leadership. “We’re going to make sure that we inflict as much pain as possible to the American people without inflicting pain on the Canadian population,” Ford said, revealing a striking lack of self-awareness about the economic gap between the two nations.
Holy Shit! Doug Ford just said it's his goal to inflict as much pain as possible on the American people.
This is absolutely insane. pic.twitter.com/lvcTF6BLFw
— govt.exe is corrupt (@govt_corrupt) March 27, 2025
President Trump’s executive order imposes a 25% tariff on all imported vehicles not built in the United States. The measure is expected to begin April 3 and later expand to include parts. The move is designed to restore balance after decades of uneven trade.
Ford called the announcement a surprise and said automakers won’t have time to adjust. But instead of negotiating, he declared he would lead efforts to hurt American families — not by targeting Trump, but by inflicting pain on the country as a whole.
The Ontario premier said he plans to coordinate with other Canadian provinces and executives in the auto industry to organize a joint response. He added that he spoke with Prime Minister Mark Carney and encouraged the federal government to focus retaliation on U.S.-made cars.
Ford also raised the idea of a possible electricity tariff, saying he would decide after April 2. He claimed he didn’t want to harm other provinces but left the door open to further escalation.
While expressing supposed sympathy for Americans, Ford ultimately blamed Trump for what he called “chaos.” In the same breath, he declared his intention to increase American suffering — a position many see as politically motivated and deeply unserious.
