US President Donald Trump has stated he will halt all trade negotiations with Canada immediately due to an advertisement in which his predecessor Ronald Reagan asserts that tariffs 'hurt every American.'
The advertisement, produced by Ontario, Canada, features excerpts from Reagan's 1987 speech addressing foreign trade.
Trump labeled the advert 'FAKE,' while the Ronald Reagan Foundation claimed it misrepresents Reagan's original message.
The minute-long video uses quotes from Reagan’s five-minute speech but alters their order, raising concerns about the authenticity of the presented information.
In Reagan's original address, he articulates the adverse effects of tariffs but does so in a more nuanced manner that the advert simplifies. The speech begins by addressing ongoing trade discussions with Japan before transitioning into his views on tariffs.
This incident has sparked significant debate regarding the manipulation of historical figures' words for political agendas, further straining US-Canada relations over trade.
