Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday sharply criticized a Canadian government–funded advertisement that used archival footage of former President Ronald Reagan to attack the Trump administration’s trade policies, calling it “the equivalent of election interference.”
Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, Bessent accused Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government of attempting to sway American voters ahead of the 2026 election cycle. “I read that the premier of Ontario spent $75 million sending propaganda across the U.S. border via—” he began, before host Jake Tapper interrupted to note that the ad used Reagan’s own words.
“Via our airwaves, via our own airwaves,” Bessent continued. “It’s the equivalent of election interference. Nobody likes foreign election interference. Nobody likes foreign governments trying to sway public opinion for their own good.”
The controversy centers on a 30-second commercial that aired during the World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The ad featured Reagan criticizing tariffs, a position the Ontario government framed as a rebuke of President Trump’s current trade approach.
The broadcast reportedly infuriated the president, who told reporters Friday that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had apologized for the ad’s release. Trump also announced he was suspending trade talks with Canada and would impose a 10 percent tariff in response.
The president argued that the ad misrepresented Reagan’s original comments by altering the order of his statements on tariffs to fit a political narrative. “They twisted Reagan’s words,” Trump said, according to aides familiar with the exchange, noting that the Gipper’s broader message supported free and fair trade but also strong American leadership.
Bessent’s comments reflect growing frustration within the administration over what it sees as foreign governments using American media to undermine U.S. policy. The Treasury secretary warned that such actions blur the line between diplomacy and manipulation. “It’s one thing to debate trade policy,” he said. “It’s another to use a beloved American president’s words to meddle in our political process.”
Canadian officials have defended the campaign. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, appearing Sunday on CBC’s Rosemary Barton Live, backed Ford’s decision to air the ad despite the backlash from Washington. “I support the premier’s approach,” Brown said. “Sometimes you need to throw a rock in a pond to get a splash. He’s got a reaction.”
Brown dismissed U.S. criticism, insisting that the ad simply highlighted Reagan’s economic philosophy. “It’s got a lot of coverage,” he said. “And the words are truthful, despite what they’re trying to spin and say that, you know, it’s only a portion of the speech. Ronald Reagan viewed tariffs as taxes that would cost America in the long term.”
Still, the dispute underscores the mounting tension between Washington and one of its closest allies. Trump’s tariff strategy—designed to protect American industries and address longstanding trade imbalances—has rattled international markets and strained relations with partners such as Canada and the European Union.
For Bessent and other administration officials, however, the broader issue is about sovereignty. “We respect Canada’s right to its own views,” Bessent said. “But we expect the same respect in return. Interfering in another nation’s political discourse crosses a line.”
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