Trump fumes over Canadian wildfire smoke and issues tariff threat

President Donald Trump on Friday pledged to hold Canada responsible for costs associated with unhealthy air quality in the U.S. due to spreading smoke from the Canadian wildfires.

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“The cost is incalculable!” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social. “This is Willful Negligence, and becoming a yearly occurrence, costing the United States Billions of Dollars, which cost of this pollution must of necessity be added to the TARIFFS Canada is currently paying.”

Trump has often used tariffs — which are paid by businesses and consumers — as a political cudgel in disputes with other countries.

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In his post, Trump added that he would call Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney “to find out what they are going to do about it.”

“We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!” Trump wrote.

Read more Trump speech ripple effects: From the Politics Desk