On Friday, President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on Canada, blaming the country’s worsening wildfires for sending hazardous smoke across the U.S. and accusing Ottawa of failing to properly manage its forests.
Trump Links Wildfire Smoke To Tariff Threat
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called the situation “totally unacceptable,” saying smoke from Canadian wildfires has blanketed large parts of the U.S. with unhealthy air and imposed billions of dollars in costs on Americans.
Trump said the financial impact of the wildfire smoke on the U.S. should be factored into the tariffs Canada already faces.
He also accused Canada of failing to maintain its forests and brush, saying that the U.S. was being “unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air.”
Trump added that he planned to speak with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney later Friday “to find out what they are going to do about it.”
Canada Battles Escalating Wildfire Crisis
The remarks come as Canada continues to battle an intense wildfire season, particularly in northwestern Ontario, where thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate.
Earlier this week, Carney said in a post on X that the wildfires had “escalated significantly” in recent weeks, especially in northwestern Ontario, prompting emergency evacuations as crews work to contain the blazes.
The wildfire smoke has drifted across the border, pushing air quality to unhealthy levels in several major U.S. cities.
EPA Responds As Air Quality Concerns Grow
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin acknowledged that smoke from the Canadian wildfires is causing “great concern and harm across the United States.”
In a post on X, Zeldin said the EPA is communicating with Canadian officials and will “strongly encourage them to do everything in their power to extinguish these fires as fast as possible.”
He also urged Americans to monitor local conditions using AirNow’s Fire and Smoke Map.
The deteriorating air quality has also raised concerns about Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, which Trump is expected to attend, CNBC reported.
Meanwhile, scientists have long warned that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires and other extreme weather events.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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