Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued a stark warning Thursday, telling policy leaders in Toronto that U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments show he poses a real threat to Canada’s economy and sovereignty. Speaking at the Canada Growth Summit 2025, Ford said Trump’s remarks about Canada were not just rhetorical, but a sign of deeper intentions to harm key sectors like auto manufacturing and trade. “He wants to try to take over Canada,” Ford said, adding, “He wants to destroy our auto sector. He wants to destroy our manufacturing sector.”
The warning follows comments Trump made from the White House earlier this week, where he claimed Canada would “cease to exist” without American support and floated the idea of raising tariffs on Canadian-made automobiles beyond the existing 25 percent. Trump further suggested that he wants to see car production shift away from Canada back to the United States, saying bluntly, “I really don’t want cars from Canada.” These remarks have fueled growing concerns in Canada, especially as the country approaches a high-stakes federal election centered largely around Trump’s impact.
Ford’s comments lend support to Liberal Leader Mark Carney’s campaign message, which frames the election as a critical choice about who can stand up to Trump’s aggressive trade policies. Carney, a former central banker now seeking his first political mandate, emphasized Thursday that Canadians need a leader who can manage crises and defend the country’s interests. Speaking in British Columbia, Carney said Trump’s statements “underscore how important the choice Canadians have on Monday really is.”
Ford, who recently secured a third straight provincial election win on a platform promising to confront Trump’s trade threats, has not formally endorsed any federal candidate. However, he has openly criticized Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre for his sagging poll numbers and for being slow to respond to Trump’s provocations. Ford has also warned that Trump’s tariffs could jeopardize up to 500,000 jobs in Ontario alone, intensifying fears about the future of the province’s economy.
The Ontario premier’s latest remarks highlight the unprecedented influence of the American president on Canada’s domestic political scene. Ford said many U.S. Republican lawmakers privately admit Trump’s trade wars harm Americans too, but fear speaking out against him. “I think the cheese slips off the cracker with this guy,” Ford said of Trump, adding that even the people closest to the president often have no idea what he will do next.
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