President Trump accused the Canadian government of “Willful Negligence” and threatened added tariffs over its handling of massive wildfires that have spread toxic smoke over large portions of the East Coast and Midwest.
“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 in a Truth Social post.
“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.”
Over a dozen US states have now issued air-quality alerts due to the wildfires.
Residents in some US cities, including Chicago and Washington DC, have been advised to stay indoors or wear masks.
On Friday, there were nearly 900 active fires in Canada, mostly in Ontario, Quebec and the Northwest Territories.
Fewer than 100 fires were classed as “under control.”
In his post, President Trump also said he would speak to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to “find out what they are going to do about it.”
A day earlier, Carney shrugged off the criticism and also poked President Trump by saying, “Fighting climate change is the responsibility of all countries, including the United States.”
US politicians have also raised the matter directly with Canada’s Prime Minister, including three Representatives from Michigan.
“This is the third consecutive year we have had to write to Canadian officials about a crisis that Canada has the tools to prevent and has chosen not to,” GOP Reps. John James, Jack Bergman, John Moolenaar and Lisa McClain wrote in a letter to Carney.
“If Canada will not manage its forests to prevent these fires, the United States will look elsewhere, and act on our own, to protect our people.”
One Response
Trump got something right, that is rare these days.