Okay, so like, imagine you’re at a fancy dinner in South Korea — crystal glasses, international leaders, polite smiles — and then suddenly the vibe is totally ruined because someone (hi, Donald) is still fuming about a Canadian TV ad. Yeah. That’s where we’re at right now.
So, U.S. President Donald Trump basically ghosted Canada’s trade talks last week after Ontario ran this super pricey, $75-million “free trade is hot” commercial. It used an old Ronald Reagan quote that was all like, “Tear down those tariffs.” Cute, right? Except Trump thought it was, quote, “fake,” and decided to throw a full-on tariff tantrum.
He even raged online that he wasn’t going to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea to “see Canada,” which is exactly what someone says right before sitting across from Prime Minister Mark Carney at an eight-person dinner. Yes, they literally made finger guns at each other — like it was a diplomatic Western showdown — and smiled through the tension. Someone pass the soju.
Back in Ottawa though, things got way louder. According to sources, U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra absolutely lost his chill at a posh Canadian American Business Council gala. He allegedly screamed (with actual swear words!) at Ontario’s Washington rep, David Paterson, for “wrecking” the goodwill that had been building toward a tariff deal. Picture it: 200 guests in gowns and tuxes, a National Gallery backdrop, and one furious American yelling about steel and aluminum. Totally off the record, but everyone was talking.
Apparently, there was a deal in the works between the U.S. and Canada to sort out steel, aluminum, and energy tariffs — until Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s ad aired during Game 1 of the World Series. Trump was reportedly so mad he threatened to tack on another 10% tariff unless the ad disappeared. Ford eventually pulled it… after letting it play during Game 2, obviously. Priorities.
When pressed by reporters, Ford was like, “They knew what I was doing. It was very successful.” Meanwhile, Carney was dodging questions like a pro, saying we should “take the President at his word.” (Translation: yes, he’s mad, but let’s all pretend we’re adults.)
In Parliament, Conservative Leader Pierre P. demanded to know if Carney approved the ad beforehand — because apparently, in Ottawa, everything’s a group project gone wrong. And while ministers were trying to sound serious, Trump was reportedly still brooding, threatening to “annihilate” Canada’s manufacturing sector.
By Wednesday, Carney and Trump were face to face at that South Korean dinner — and yes, they exchanged pleasantries like civilized frenemies. But sources say the vibes were icy. Trade negotiations are still frozen, and the once-promised “signing moment” at APEC? Yeah, that’s not happening unless Trump has a change of heart — or someone distracts him with a Reagan quote he actually likes.
At this point, it’s less about tariffs and more about egos. The Ontario ad got 11.4 billion impressions (that’s billion with a “b”) — which, honestly, is more than most global trade deals get in attention. So maybe that $75 million was money well spent… even if it did start an international feud.
Like, say what you will, but this whole mess proves one thing: diplomacy might be boring — until it isn’t.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
Where were you when a $75-million ad caused an international meltdown and finger guns became foreign policy?
