Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he “couldn’t be happier” with the results of the U.S. midterm elections because it sends a message to U.S. President Donald Trump about how Americans feel about tariffs. Ford made the comment to reporters at Queen’s Park on Wednesday, one day after the Democrats seized control of both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives in what some analysts have framed as a rebuke of Trump. “The American people spoke, and I couldn’t be happier,” Ford told reporters Wednesday. “They can blame everyone they want, but President Trump has to look in the mirror, take responsibility for the results of last night.” The Democrats trounced the Republicans in the U.S. midterm elections Tuesday night, gaining control of congress with seven more seats in the Senate and another 26 in the house. “Let’s do everything we can to get rid of these tariffs and show prosperity in both countries,” Ford said Wednesday. “That’s what will create opportunities in both countries, by getting rid of these tariffs.” Trump’s tariffs have battered Ontario’s economy and Ford has repeatedly spoken out against them. The province’s recent fall economic update added $3 billion to the deficit, with much of the extra spending going to rainy day funds to bolster against the impacts of further tariffs that could hit in January. Speaking with reporters about Trump, he added “I can’t stand the guy” and said he’s proven himself untrustworthy. “I can’t trust him as far as I can throw him. That’s my personal opinion,” Ford said. “Maybe the prime minister feels differently, but he (Trump) has shown over and over again that he can’t be trusted. He’ll make a deal. He’ll wake up in the morning, change the deal. And the (planned) tariffs in January are real. They’re as real as I’m standing here.” Tariffs on Canadian auto and steel products are set to rise to 50 per cent in January. Asked if he would work with some of the farther left candidates who were elected last night, such as (Senator-Elect) Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, Ford said he would work “with anybody” to create jobs and increase prosperity. Ford has been particularly strident in speaking out against Trump’s tariffs, making regular appearances on U.S. television networks and running ads aimed at U.S. viewers which sometimes angered the president. Ford has also vocally supported dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs in retaliation for the trade war.
