Trump vs. Canada: Ford Blames U.S. President for Looming ‘Trump Recession’
A fiery economic showdown is unfolding as Ontario Premier Doug Ford takes direct aim at President Donald Trump, holding him solely responsible for what he calls the impending “Trump recession.”
“If we go into a recession, it will be called the Trump recession,” Ford declared during a heated CNBC interview on “Money Movers.” His comments came just moments after Trump announced a shocking tariff hike on Canadian steel and aluminum imports, doubling duties to 50%—a move that sent Wall Street into a tailspin.
Trump claims the tariff escalation is retaliation against Ontario’s recent 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S., a measure impacting 1.5 million American customers. But Ford is standing his ground, warning that he won’t hesitate to cut off power exports entirely if Trump continues his economic offensive.
“That’s the last thing I want to do,” Ford said. “I want to send more electricity to the U.S., to our closest allies, to our best neighbors. But is it a tool in our toolkit? One hundred percent. And if he continues to hurt Canadian families, Ontario families, I won’t hesitate to do that.”
The fallout was immediate—the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged over 500 points following Trump’s announcement, fueling concerns that his aggressive trade policies could tip the economy into recession.
Ford called on Trump to eliminate tariffs imposed on Canada since his return to the White House, arguing that his actions are wreaking havoc on markets, spiking inflation, and eroding consumer confidence. “If this continues, plants will close, assembly lines will shut down—over what? A reckless trade war?” Ford fumed.
Trump wasted no time firing back, taking to Truth Social to slam Canada’s threat of cutting electricity exports. “Why would our Country allow another Country to supply us with electricity, even for a small area?” Trump wrote. “Can you imagine Canada stooping so low as to use ELECTRICITY, which affects innocent lives, as a bargaining chip? They will pay a financial price so big it will be read about in history books!”
While sources indicate Trump has yet to sign paperwork finalizing the tariff hike, senior officials say he intends to “lay down the gauntlet” to Canada. As tensions boil over, one thing is clear—this trade war is far from over
