Canadian PM admits apology to Trump over controversial political ad

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he had apologised to U.S. President Donald Trump over an anti-tariff political advertisement and had urged Ontario Premier Doug Ford not to release it.

According to the Guardian, speaking to reporters on November 1 after attending an Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea, Carney said he had offered the apology privately to Trump during a dinner hosted by South Korea’s president on Wednesday.

“I did apologise to the president,” Carney confirmed, echoing remarks Trump made on Friday. He added that he had reviewed the ad with Ford before it aired, but had opposed using it. “I told Ford I did not want to go forward with the ad,” he said.

The ad, commissioned by Ford, features a clip of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan warning that tariffs lead to trade wars and economic disaster. Following its release, Trump announced increased tariffs on Canadian goods and suspended trade talks with Canada.

While leaving South Korea earlier in the week, Trump described his exchange with Carney as a “very nice” conversation, but later reiterated that talks with Canada would not resume.

Carney also said his Friday meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping marked a “turning point” in bilateral relations after years of strain. The last formal meeting between Canadian and Chinese leaders occurred in 2017, when then–Prime Minister Justin Trudeau briefly met Xi in San Francisco.

Relations deteriorated after the detention and execution of Canadian citizens in China and findings by Canadian authorities that Beijing interfered in at least two federal elections. Carney said he discussed foreign interference and other key issues with Xi.

He added that the Asia trip was part of a broader effort to reduce Canada’s dependence on the United States. “It can’t happen overnight, but we’re moving very fast,” Carney said.

By Tamilla Hasanova