Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia has labeled President Donald Trump’s recent reaction towards Canada over an anti-tariff advertisement by the Ontario government as a “temper tantrum” that may blow over, but he finds it embarrassing for the United States. Kaine criticized Trump’s behavior as immature during an exclusive interview on the show “Rosemary Barton Live,” airing Sunday. The contentious advertisement, which featured audio clips of former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs in 1987, has significantly strained trade discussions between Canada and the U.S.
Following the airing of the ad, Trump expressed his displeasure towards Canada on social media, threatening to increase tariffs by 10%, although the specific tariffs in question were not specified. Trump accused Canada of allowing the ad, which he deemed fraudulent, to run during the World Series despite his demands for its immediate removal. Kaine, who condemned Trump’s trade war as detrimental to the American economy, emphasized the need to return to negotiations.
Kaine believes Trump’s anger will subside, but he highlighted the embarrassment caused by a president so easily rattled by an advertisement. Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced plans to pull the ad from U.S. screens after the weekend, acknowledging the impact it had during the World Series broadcast. Kaine suggested that economic realities, rather than Canadian actions, would likely bring Trump back to the negotiating table.
In a collaborative effort with Republican Senator Rand Paul, Kaine introduced legislation earlier this month to end the national emergency invoked by Trump to justify tariffs on various countries, including Canada and Mexico. Kaine expressed optimism in garnering support from Republican senators in a forthcoming vote. Additionally, a pending court case challenges the constitutionality of Trump’s tariffs, with the Supreme Court set to hear arguments in November.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Premier Ford for the advertisement, describing it as interference in U.S. matters and damaging the relationship with Ontario. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney, currently in Southeast Asia to strengthen trade partnerships, emphasized the importance of reliable partnerships during the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia. Carney reiterated Canada’s commitment to negotiating with the U.S. in the best interest of Canadian workers and families, with plans to diversify exports away from the United States over the next decade.