Treasury Secretary Awkwardly Dodges Questions On Trump Jacking Up Canada Tariffs Because Reagan Ad Made Him Angry

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was confronted, Sunday, about the idea that President Donald Trump increased tariffs on Canada because of a TV ad he didn’t like.

In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday, Kristen Welker grilled Bessent about how Trump’s anger over an ad which shows Ronald Reagan bashing tariffs is dictating U.S. trade policy.

“This week, President Trump abruptly broke off trade talks with Canada and put another 10 percent tariff on Canada in response to an ad that the government of Ontario ran,” Welker said. “It features former President Ronald Reagan. Why is the president setting trade policy based on a television ad he doesn’t like?”

Bessent defended the president and slammed the Ontario government for running the ad.

“This is a kind of propaganda against U.S. citizens,” Bessent said. “It’s psy-ops. Why would the government of Ontario — I’m told that they have spent or were planning to spend up to $75 million on these ads to come across the U.S. border … what was the purpose of that other than to sway public opinion? And it’s some kind of propaganda that the premier of Ontario unilaterally launched.”

But Bessent then waffled on the specifics of the new tariffs when Welker pressed him on it.

“Will the 10 percent tariffs apply to all Canadian goods, Mr. Secretary?” Welker asked.

“Kristen, I’ve been traveling since this unfortunate event happened,” Bessent said. “I know that the ad’s been taken down. So, you know, we’ll have to see. But I just think it was terrible, terrible judgment by this premier, you know, who has a bit of a reputation for being a hothead.”

Welker tried following up, but — again — Bessent could not provide any details about Trump’s added tariffs.

“Does the president know if the 10 percent tariffs will apply to all Canadian goods?” Welker asked. “Has he made a determination about that?”

“Well, I’m sure he knows and I’m sure the [U.S. trade] Ambassador [Jamieson] Greer knows. But, again, you know, we’re here out in Asia and we’re doing these big trade deals out in Asia.”

Trump made the tariff announcement late Saturday in a post on Truth Social.

“Canada was caught, red handed, putting up a fraudulent advertisement on Ronald Reagan’s Speech on Tariffs,” Trump wrote. He added, “Ronald Reagan LOVED Tariffs for purposes of National Security and the Economy, but Canada said he didn’t! Their Advertisement was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD. Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now.”

Watch above, via NBC News.