Trump Claims Canada ‘Apologized’ for ‘False’ Reagan Commercial: ‘Ronald Reagan Loved Tariffs’

On his way to Palm Beach Friday, President Donald Trump told reporters that he and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney still “have a very good relationship” following the dustup over a Ronald Reagan tariff ad aired by the government of Ontario.

According to the CBC, the two leaders “were seated across the table and even acknowledged each other during a toast at a dinner ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-Operation Summit on Wednesday,” but “appeared to have virtually nothing to say to one another in a visible demonstration of the frost that’s formed over the U.S.-Canada relationship.”

However, Trump claimed that Carney apologized for running the ad that prompted the U.S. president to slap an additional 10% tariff on Canada as punishment.

The government of Ontario ran what Trump called a “fraudulent” TV ad where Reagan denounced tariffs, claiming that Canada was caught “red handed” manipulating Reagan’s views of tariffs.

When Trump was asked if he was resuming trade negotiations with Carney, Trump answered, “No, but I have a very good relationship. I like him a lot.”

Trump continued:

He was very nice. He apologized for what they did with the commercial because it was a false commercial. You know, it was the exact opposite. Ronald Reagan loved tariffs and they tried to make it look the other way. And he did apologize and I appreciate it. We had a great dinner, you know, with other countries as you know, and I think we have a very good relationship. Personally I think what they did was wrong, but he did apologize.

The Reagan Foundation said in a statement that the Canadian ad used “selective audio and video” and “mispresents the Presidential Radio Address” from 1987.

“However, the ad’s overall message doesn’t misrepresent Reagan’s views on tariffs,” PBS News reported. “Reagan said he believed that in the long-term tariffs would lead to trade wars and hurt Americans.”

Watch the clip above via CNN.