US President Donald Trump has accused Canada of releasing a “FAKE” advertisement using late President Ronald Reagan’s speech against tariffs. Following the controversy, he announced the immediate cancellation of trade talks with Canada.

Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, his own social media platform. “The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs," he wrote.

The Controversial Advertisement

The disputed ad was shared by Ontario Premier Doug Ford on X. It opened with Reagan saying, “When someone says, ‘Let’s impose tariffs on foreign imports,’ it looks like they’re doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs, and sometimes for a short while it works, but only for a short time. But over the long run, such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer.”

The ad was also broadcast during a Major League Baseball playoff game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. The game aired on Fox Sports, which said the broadcast reached more than nine million viewers.

Reagan Foundation Considers Legal Action

According to NBC News, the Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute confirmed that it was “reviewing its legal options” regarding the ad’s use.

In a statement, it added, “The ad misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address, and the Government of Ontario did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks.”

Trump Defends Tariffs

Trump defended his stance on tariffs, saying they are crucial for protecting the US economy and national security.

“The ad was for $75,000,000. They only did this to interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts. TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A. Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED," Trump said.

Strained US-Canada Relations

The cancellation marks another setback in trade relations between Washington and Ottawa. In June, Trump had already announced a halt to all trade discussions, accusing Canada of unfair treatment toward American tech companies and dairy farmers.

Canada had responded by setting quotas on steel imports. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the move was aimed at countering “unjust US tariffs.”

Efforts to Repair Relations

Tensions eased weeks later when Canada withdrew its planned digital services tax targeting major American firms. The move was seen as an effort to restore calm between the two countries.

In early October, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the White House. Standing beside Carney, Trump said the US and Canada shared “mutual love.” However, he also hinted that disputes could return, saying, “We want Canada to do great. But you know, there’s a point at which we also want the same business.”