Trump says he doesn’t 'want Canadian anything’ as he accuses Ottawa of exploiting US industries

WASHINGTON, DC: After renaming Lake Ontario as "Lake America," President Donald Trump is ramping up his battle against Canada, declaring he doesn’t want anything from his northern neighbor.

The 80-year-old, on Sunday, August 30, urged US industries to reject Canadian products as he touted his tariffs, saying they “saved” the American auto industry after it had been exploited by Canada, which he branded “one of the Worst Abusers.” 

Trump has been locked in a furious trade war with Canada since imposing 50% tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods after the collapse of trade talks between the two longtime allies.

The tariff will apply to numerous Canadian products, including wine, hockey sticks, cement, natural honey and wallpaper. In retaliation, Canada has also applied tariffs on roughly $20 billion in US imports that are set to take effect September 8.

US businesses imported nearly $382 billion worth of goods from the country’s northern neighbor last year, according to US Census Bureau data.

Trump accuses Canada of 'ripping' the US off 'for decades'

In back-to-back Truth Social posts, Trump first credited his tariffs with strengthening the US auto industry and helping keep American manufacturing plants open, pointing to Ford and other automakers.

"When I announced that I was running in the 2024 Presidential Election, right at the beginning, Ford was getting ready to close their Big Factory, in Detroit," the Republican leader wrote before claiming that the plant is now "running 24/7" and has become "one of the most profitable Car Plants in the World."

"There are many other examples, for both Ford, General Motors, and others. I’ve revived, and indeed saved, the Automobile Business in our America. That’s because of what I’ve done with TARIFFS," he said.

Trump then turned his attention to Canada, calling the longtime US ally one of America’s “worst” trade offenders.

"One of the Worst Abusers is Canada. I don’t want Canadian cars, I don’t want Canadian parts, I don’t want Canadian anything. They’ve been ripping us off for decades, and it’s going to stop," Trump said.

"This should have happened long ago with other Presidents, just as stopping Iran should have happened long ago," he continued. "They want to be treated like a State, but they aren’t one. I deal with the Leadership of many Countries, but I find Canada to be the worst. They are entitled no longer!"

Minutes later, he doubled down with another post, urging Canadian companies doing business in the US to move their operations south of the border.

"Let all Canadian Companies that are doing business with America move to the United States, immediately. Many of them are Companies that moved out years ago due to stupid U.S. Leadership. When you move back, there are no TARIFFS!" Trump wrote.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford refuses to follow Trump’s lead

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who previously bashed Trump, calling him "arrogant" and "cocky," recently declared “no one” will be following Trump’s lead in calling Lake Ontario "Lake America."

Ford voiced his frustration, saying he saw no “purpose” in Trump signing an executive order directing the Interior Department to officially adopt the new name across government systems.

“It’s absolutely backwards. It was like something out of Saturday Night Live when he signed documents saying change it to Lake America,” Ford said.

“No one is going to call it Lake of America. It’s been Lake Ontario for hundreds of years; it’s going to continue being Lake Ontario, and it’s just so, so disappointing,” he stressed. 

However, Google appears to have disappointed Ford after the tech giant changed the name for US users late on Saturday, a move that was celebrated by members of the White House.