U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, appearing on this morning’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker, sharply escalated the rhetoric in the U.S.’s renewed trade dispute with Canada, labeling a recent Canadian government-funded television ad as “a kind of propaganda against U.S. citizens” and “psy-ops.”
The comments follow President Trump’s abrupt decision this week to break off trade talks and impose an additional 10% tariff on Canada. The action was reportedly taken in direct response to a television commercial run by the government of Ontario, which prominently features former President Ronald Reagan.
When pressed by Welker on why trade policy was being dictated by a disfavored advertisement, Secretary Bessent defended the administration’s move, focusing his criticism on the Canadian provincial government’s intentions.
READ: U.S. And China Reach ‘Substantial Framework’ To Avert New 100% Tariffs
“This is a kind of propaganda against U.S. citizens. It’s psy-ops,” Bessent stated. “Why would the government of Ontario—I’m told that they have spent or were planning to spend up to $75 million on these ads to come across the U.S. border. So what was the purpose of that other than to sway public opinion?”
The Secretary dismissed the ad as “terrible, terrible judgment by this premier, you know, who has a bit of a reputation for being a hothead.”
However, Bessent offered little clarity on the scope of the new 10% tariffs, which the President imposed immediately after the trade talks collapsed.
“Kristen, I’ve been traveling since this unfortunate event happened. I know that the ad’s been taken down. So, you know, we’ll have to see,” he said, deferring questions about whether the tariffs would apply to all Canadian goods.
READ: ‘Canada Cheated’: Trump Terminates All Trade Talks Over ‘Fake’ Reagan Anti-Tariff Ad
Currently in Asia for trade negotiations, Secretary Bessent downplayed the North American trade friction, suggesting it was secondary to the administration’s broader trade agenda in the Pacific.
“I’m sure he knows and I’m sure the Ambassador Greer knows,” Bessent said of the President’s determination on the tariff’s breadth. “But, again, you know, we’re here out in Asia and we’re doing these big trade deals out in Asia. We just signed the Malaysian deal today, which was fantastic… whatever’s going on back in North America I think is taking second fiddle to President Trump’s leadership out here in the Pacific.”
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