Wildfire smoke blankets millions in US, Trump criticizes Canada

Dense smoke from uncontrolled wildfires in Canada has blanketed millions in the northeastern United States, triggering unhealthy air quality alerts and raising concerns, particularly for weekend events.

As of Friday, Canadian authorities reported 209 fires out of control nationwide, with the total area burned this year reaching nearly 2.8 million hectares. The province of Ontario has sought federal aid due to the severity of the fires, though no human casualties have been reported there, with some isolated communities evacuated.

Major U.S. cities, including Chicago, Detroit, Washington, and New York, experienced some of the worst air quality globally, according to IQAir. Officials advised residents to limit outdoor activities.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed anger, blaming Canada for the cross-border pollution. He stated he would contact Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss the situation, threatening to impose additional tariffs on Canada to cover the cost of the air pollution. "The United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!" Trump wrote on social media.

Canadian officials have historically battled wildfires, with smoke frequently drifting into the U.S. depending on weather patterns. Trump asserted that Canada is responsible for not adequately maintaining its forests, leading to the influx of unhealthy air into the United States.

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The United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!