Canadians Debate Prime Minister's Apology to Trump
The r/Canada subreddit saw over 1,200 comments after Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed he apologized to President Donald Trump regarding an Ontario-made anti-tariffs advertisement. The ad, which disrupted trade negotiations, featured remarks from the late President Ronald Reagan about tariffs in a 1987 speech.
Context of the Apology
The controversial ad aired during early World Series games between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers, angering Trump and causing him to cancel U.S.-Canada trade talks. Ontario's premier did not apologize for the ad, but Carney took responsibility as the federal leader.
Prime Minister Carney’s Statement
"I did apologize to the president," Carney said, noting that Trump was "offended" by the ad. "It's not something I would have done, which is to put in place that advertisement, and so I apologized to him."
"I'm the one who's responsible, in my role as prime minister, for the relationship with the president of the United States," Carney added. "And the federal government is responsible for the foreign relationship with the US government."
Public Reaction on Social Media
Canadians have been actively using social platforms to discuss and come to terms with the awkward political situation created by the ad and subsequent apology.
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