Trump says he’ll hold Canada responsible for wildfire smoke

U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to hold Canada accountable for wildfire smoke drifting across the border, warning that the costs would be added to American tariffs.

"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 posted on Truth Social. He characterized the wildfire smoke as "willful negligence" and a "yearly occurrence" that costs the United States billions of dollars.

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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 also indicated he would contact Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss Canada's response. The smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires has blanketed major U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C., New York, and Detroit, leading to air quality alerts in more than a dozen states. Canadian officials reported 859 active wildfires, with 113 considered out of control, and over 2.38 million hectares burned so far this season.

American politicians have criticized Canada's handling of the wildfires. Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded to the criticism, stating that while Americans are "good neighbours," some politicians should "send support, send help, rather than complain." He noted that Canada has provided similar assistance to the U.S. in the past. The two countries have a long-standing agreement, the Canada/United States Reciprocal Forest Fire Fighting Arrangement, dating back to 1982, facilitating resource exchange between firefighting agencies.

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if there’s some politicians out there chirping away, well, maybe what you should do rather than complain is send support, send help, because we have done the exact same thing for our American friends. And that’s what you’re supposed to do.