Trump hits back at ‘flunky’ Doug Ford as tariff war escalates: ‘Canada can’t survive without US’

WASHINGTON, DC: The US-Canada tariff dispute has spiralled into a war of words, with President Donald Trump exchanging barbs with Ontario Premier Doug Ford as tensions between Washington and Ottawa continue to rise.

The 80-year-old president, on Monday, August 24, furiously snapped back at Ford, calling him a ‘flunky’ after Ford told Trump to “kiss my a**” and threatened to cut the province’s power exports to the US.

The escalation came after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the collapse of trade talks with the US over the weekend, prompting Trump to impose a 50% tariff on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, including agricultural products, construction materials and manufacturing parts.

The president warned that he would also increase tariffs on all cars and trucks to 50% starting January 1.

Doug Ford calls Trump ‘arrogant’

Ford, the brother of the late, scandal-hit Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, responded to the failed talks and Trump’s threats in a radio interview, saying Trump was “underestimating Canada” in the dispute.

“We’re gonna go at him full-steam.”

“We need to throw everything and the kitchen sink at him. He’s arrogant, he’s cocky, and you know as Ronald Reagan said, if you come to a draw with a bully, what stops that bully from coming at you the next day, and the next day?” he said.

“And that’s all Donald Trump is: a bully. He’s gonna have a rude awakening,” Ford continued.

Prime Minister Carney also responded to Trump’s threat, saying his escalation did not come as a shock.

“It's not a surprise, for us, that the US would take some form of reprisal to our response to their unjustified tariffs, which was on top of other unjustified tariffs,” the prime minister said.

“But what message does that send to the workers in Michigan and Ohio and Kentucky and Alabama who rely on Canadian demand?” Carney asked, noting that Canada is the largest foreign buyer of US automobiles.

Trump calls Doug Ford’s comments ‘bluster’

A visibly irritated Trump hit back on Truth Social, dismissing Ford’s remarks as nothing more than “lots of bluster.”

“The USA 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,” he began.

Trump also addressed Ford’s threat to cut off electricity to US manufacturing facilities, issuing a threat of his own. 

“Remember, much of the Electricity, Oil, and Gas that Canada gets is transported through the USA. Someone should get these clowns to ‘fall in line’ or, the consequences for Canada will be far WORSE!”

“Canada’s Unemployment Rate is now at 10%, and rapidly rising. Their businesses are fleeing for the United States, and it’s all because of their failed policies, and inept leadership! The days of ripping off our Farmers, and other Businesses, are OVER!” the president concluded.