The US president accuses Ottawa of "willful negligence" and demands financial compensation, as smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets the northeastern United States.
As smoke from Canadian wildfires darkens skies over Washington and New York, Donald Trump has again escalated his rhetoric against Canada. On his Truth Social platform, he threatens to add the "incalculable cost" of the pollution to existing tariffs on Canadian exports.
"We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush," the president wrote, adding that "The United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!" He said he would speak with Prime Minister Mark Carney and denounced what he called "willful negligence."
Nearly 900 active fires burning in Canada
Canadian authorities are currently battling 896 active wildfires, including roughly 200 in the province of Ontario alone. The smoke has triggered health alerts across several US states, from the Midwest to the Northeast, with recommendations for residents to stay indoors.
Prime Minister Mark Carney responded by reminding that "climate change is everybody's responsibility – really everybody's – including the United States." Doug Ford, Ontario's premier, invited Washington to "send support" rather than criticism, stressing that his province had "always been there for our American partners."
This latest threat is part of a broader trade standoff that began as soon as Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. The US president has frequently used tariffs to pressure Canada, demanding stronger border security and changes to trade practices he considers unfair. He has also revived the controversial idea that Canada should become the "51st state."
Scientists attribute the proliferation of wildfires across North America to a combination of factors, including hot and dry conditions worsened by climate change, as well as fire management policies. However, the right-wing Trump has repeatedly blamed left-leaning and centrist politicians for mismanagement when powerful wildfires erupt.
The wildfire smoke has also raised concerns about the viability of hosting the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey this weekend. Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that the Trump administration had slashed funding for wildfire research, including laboratories studying the effects of smoke on human health.
Comment