It was a little ‘head spinning’ for sure. I had in my previous Post, “Responding to and Managing ‘America First’”, focused my attention in part on the Canadian federal government’s effort to conclude a trade deal with the Trump administration. The focused effort was presumably to reduce or eliminate tariffs on steel, aluminum, automobile parts, etc. It was clear from the previous Post, I hope, that the Carney Liberal government was not prepared at this moment to play “hard ball’. A more concerted negotiation was needed and it seemed to me that a quiet ‘behind the curtain’ strategy was far preferable. This stratagem was chosen for the Trump administration, notwithstanding Ontario Premier Doug Ford urging publicly and loudly to impose reciprocal tariffs:
“A very serious negotiation is at hand on trade and tariffs with Trump and Canada. Now, it could be retaliation time but notwithstanding the urging of some premiers notably Ontario’s Doug Ford, Carney has followed a very methodical difficult negotiation. As described by Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa Bureau Chief for the The Toronto Star and a senior reporter covering federal politics:
“Prime Minister Mark Carney has rejected Premier Doug Ford’s call to revive retaliatory counter-tariffs against the United States, citing sensitive negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at securing tariff relief for the steel, aluminum and energy sectors.”
““There’s times to hit back and there’s times to talk, and right now is the time to talk,” Carney said Thursday.”
It seems to me a public and loud rebuke, along with presumably threats of retaliation, was an inappropriate strategy with a loud and impulsive tactical negotiator like Trump. You can’t out Trump, Trump. In any case clearly Ford, much in the vein of Trump, himself, chose a loud public rebuke – in this case an advert that shone a light on President Reagan’s disapproval spoken in 1987 of tariffs as a strategy. The result described by the Toronto Star were pretty much predetermined:
“U.S. President Donald Trump said late Thursday he is cancelling all trade talks with Canada over what Trump called a “fake” Ontario ad that wrongly used Ronald Reagan’s words to attack U.S. tariffs.”
“In a furious late-night post on his platform Truth Social, Trump ripped into an advertisement the Ford government had paid for, saying that it interfered with deliberations of the U.S. Supreme Court on the validity of tariffs, and condemning as “egregious behaviour.””
“The post deals a devastating blow to ongoing trade talks which were already stalled as the Carney government seeks to strike sectoral deals on steel, aluminum and energy first. Carney had described those talks earlier Thursday as “very detailed, specific, constructive negotiations.””
“Premier Doug Ford’s government spent $75 million on the ad blitz that includes video of the former U.S. president’s famous 1987 speech denouncing tariffs.”
““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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!””
“Trump’s post linked to a post by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, which said the organization learned that the Ontario government “created an ad campaign using selective audio and video of President Ronald Reagan delivering his “Radio Address to the Nation on Free and Fair Trade,” dated April 25, 1987.”
“The ad, which is airing on many U.S. networks, appears to accurately quote Reagan, who was an advocate of free trade and an opponent of the tariffs Trump has embraced.”
Now, to be fair it seems as though the ad is not a fake though the order of the quotes may have been varied. But not the point of course and why Trump shouts about the Supreme Court decision is weird but his actions not very surprising, though extreme. Everything is personal. Look Trump just sanctioned Columbian President Pedro and his family personally, as described by The Hill in the ongoing Trump-Petro dispute
“The Trump administration leveled sanctions directly on Colombian President Gustavo Petro as well as his family members, escalating his feud with the South American leader.”
“The Treasury Department sanctions accused Petro of failing to stem cocaine production in the country, a claim that comes as the Department of War has been striking ships throughout the region that they’ve accused without evidence of ferrying drugs.”
“President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity. Today, President Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation and make clear that we will not tolerate the trafficking of drugs into our nation,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.”
“Petro’s team has called the accusations offensive.”
One last ‘second look’ for this Post is in order. This glance back is the call for civil action by David Brooks in his very good piece from The Atlantic, “America Needs a Mass Movement—Now”. In the piece Brooks suggested that following was what is required to counter Trump and the MAGA crowd:
“To beat a social movement, you must build a counter social movement. And to do that, you need a different narrative about where we are and where we should be heading, a different set of values dictating what is admirable and what is disgraceful. If we fail to build such a movement, authoritarian strongmen around the globe will dominate indefinitely.”
Well maybe not yet a social movement but a second ‘No Kings’ protest was just held across the United States. As described by Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor and long time professor at UC Berkeley, now retired, in a recent Substack of his:
“No Kings 2.0 was a huge success. More than 7 million (by some estimates, more than 8 million) showed up. We were peaceful. We were patriotic (many of us waved American flags). We stuck to one message: that we refuse to live under a dictator. We had fun (the costumes and signs were fabulous). We felt powerful in our solidarity.”
Reich goes on to suggest the following step with descriptions in a number of cases included here:
“1. Organize for the 2026 midterms.
Millions of us just participated in one of the largest demonstrations in American history. The most important thing we do with that power is wrest back control of Congress from zombie Republicans who are rubber-stamping whatever Trump wants. Otherwise, we will continue to lose our democracy and rule of law to this tyrant.”
2. Protect the decent and hardworking members of our communities who are undocumented.
3. Help people who are losing their jobs and benefits.
4. Call your members of Congress.
5. Protect LGBTQ+ and Black and brown members of our communities.
6. Participate in or organize boycotts of companies that are enabling the Trump regime — starting with Tesla, X, Amazon, Home Depot, Walmart, and Palantir Technologies.
7. Support groups litigating against Trump.
8. Spread the truth.
9. Join coworkers in getting employers to resist Trump.
10. Push for progressive measures in our communities and states.
“Local and state governments retain significant power for good. Join groups that are moving our cities and states forward, in sharp contrast to regressive moves at the federal level by Trump and his lapdogs.
Lobby, instigate, organize, and fundraise for progressive leaders and legislators. Support higher taxes on the wealthy and on big corporations to finance affordable housing, health care, child care, and elder care.”
11. Meanwhile, keep the faith. Do not give up on America.
“Remember, Trump won the popular vote by only 1.5 points. By any historical measure, this was a squeaker. In the House, the Republicans’ lead is the smallest since the Great Depression. In the Senate, Republicans lost half of 2024’s competitive Senate races, including in four states Trump won.”
I applaud the protest actions by folks but countering Trump undermining his support is tough. Of the steps suggested it seems to me the opposition must target his political support and that starts with Congress – House and Senate – and at least more state houses. It means concerted efforts to elect more legislators/representatives/governors who oppose Trump policies and will speak out and act in opposition.
Again as Reich suggests:
“Millions of us [Americans] just participated in one of the largest demonstrations in American history. The most important thing we do with that power is wrest back control of Congress from zombie Republicans who are rubber-stamping whatever Trump wants. Otherwise, we will continue to lose our democracy and rule of law to this tyrant.”
It is at the polls that opposition can make the country right.
