Ford and Trump trade insults as tariff tensions escalate

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was on the radio Monday morning with some strong words for U.S. President Donald Trump.

Ford then doubled down in front of news cameras in the afternoon in Stoney Creek, while Trump himself used social media to lob insults at Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney, who Trump again called “governor Carney.”

“I have a lot of real estate on my ass, so he has a lot of room to kiss my ass,” Ford said during a press conference.

That is the second time in one day that Ford suggested that Trump pucker up to his posterior.

READ MORE: Trump threatens to increase tariffs on Canadian autos, steel to 50% in January

“I do, I’m a big dude…what can I say,” Ford said.

Late Monday afternoon, Trump responded on Truth Social calling Ford a “flunky” and saying that Canada couldn’t survive without the U.S.

“I don’t respond to a dictator like President Trump, a bully like President Trump,” Ford said.

“As I said before, he’s the type of guy in school that would take your lunch money one day, take your toque off your head the next day and then steal your running shoes. But I’m not going to take any advice off a guy that’s the king of bankruptcies. He’s actually tariffing his own people, taxing his own people.”

WATCH MORE: Ontario small businesses at risk from U.S.-Canada trade war

The premier’s comments caught Trump’s attention.

“Lots of ‘bluster’ from Doug Ford, who is the Premier of the Canadian Province of Ontario, but who is better known as the less charismatic, intelligent, and overall unimpressive brother of the late, great Rob Ford,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

In response, Ford said: “the guy’s a loser. He’s always going to be a loser…We’re going to fight with everything we have…I have more courage in my baby toe than he has in his entire body.”

With Trump threatening further tariffs on the auto and steel sectors on Jan. 1. Ford says everything is on the table in terms of retaliation from Ontario.

WATCH MORE: Canada suspends trade talks, new 50% U.S. tariffs take effect

“I think we start off with a surcharge if it escalates…we have to use every tool in our toolbox…we’re not the only ones who send electricity down to the States.”

Ontario sends electricity to 1.5 million customers in Michigan, New York and Minnesota.

Ford is calling on Canadian premiers to stand united and planned to speak with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Monday afternoon.

A source tells CHCH News that Ontario is preparing for two years of tariffs and uncertainty while Trump remains president.

READ MORE: Ontario’s premier: Canada should be ready to cut electricity, critical minerals as trade woes worsen