Canada Tells Truth; Trolls Trump: Ronnie Reagan Hated Tariffs. Out.

Erh. . . when truth happens in Ontario. . . it doesn't always stay in Ontario.

Apparently, in response to Canada telling the truth about Ronald Reagan's feelings on tariffs -- and the lunacy that is "tariff-max" -- under Trump. . . he's cut off all trade negotiations with Canada. Charming -- per the NYT:

. . .The ad that Mr. Trump mentioned in his post was taken out by the government of Ontario, Canada’s most populous province and a key nexus of economic cooperation with the United States.

The ad, which according to the government of Ontario cost 75 million Canadian dollars ($53.5 million), uses audio from 1987 from President Ronald Reagan denouncing tariffs as destructive for the economy. The ad was to begin airing in the United States this week on Newsmax and Bloomberg, the Ontario government said, and then on several other U.S. channels over the course of the following two weeks. [Ad -- as it runs on YouTube below.]



“When someone says, ‘Let’s impose tariffs on foreign imports,’ it looks like they’re doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products,” Mr. Reagan’s voice narrates over a video of generic images of economic activity. But, the audio warns, tariffs cause damage. “Markets shrink and collapse, industries shut down and millions of people lose their jobs. . . .”

Flawless! What a dunce Trump ever is.

Trump claims Canada cannot use public radio address audio of Reagan -- (from a broadcast 1987 radio speech, as President entitled "Address to the Nation on Free and Fair Trade"), i.e., from his duties at the White House -- without permission. That is transparently stupid.

Mr. Reagan was speaking to the nation in a very public radio address (one we paid for).

We the taxpayers own that -- Trump does not. This is quintessentially public policy broadcast communication (paid for via our tax dollars' salary to Reagan). It is also quintessentially public communication about a matter of significant public concern, in this present moment.

Trump's only remedy here is to run his own ad, at his own expense and separately suggest that he thinks this is a misleading use of Mr. Reagan sentiments.

But anyone with a working forebrain can hear that in context Mr. Reagan thinks tariffs are a bad idea.

Once again, Trump is trying to suppress free expression -- solely because it expresses a truth he doesn't like. Buckle up, buttercup.

Out.

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