Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent went to great lengths to dodge a question about why President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Canada because of a TV ad he despised.

Speaking with Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press” on Sunday, the NBC anchor pressed Bessent to answer why the president “put another 10% tariff on Canada in response” to an ad the Ontario government ran that featured former president Ronald Reagan.

Trump’s discontent over the announcement led him to end trade negotiations between the United States and Canada. threatening once again to upend the key economic relationship between the United States and its second largest trading partner.

Without directly answering Welker’s question, Bessent launched into arguing that the ad was a “kind of propaganda against American citizens.” He also accused the ad of using psychological operations, a military and government tactic that uses the media to influence people’s emotions and help shape public perceptions.

“It’s psychological operations. Why has the Ontario government… told me that they have spent or were planning to spend up to $75 million on these ads to cross the border into the United States… what was the purpose of that other than to influence public opinion?” Bessent said of the announcement. “And it’s some kind of propaganda that the premier of Ontario put out unilaterally.”

Welker then asked the government official if the 10% tariffs “will apply to all Canadian products.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent awkwardly avoided a question about President Donald Trump's tariff hike on Canada.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent awkwardly avoided a question about President Donald Trump’s tariff hike on Canada.

Fake Images/YouTube.

“Kristen, I have been traveling since this unfortunate event occurred,” Bessent responded. “I know the ad has been pulled. So, you know, we’ll have to see. But I think it was terrible, terrible judgment on the part of this prime minister, you know, who has a bit of a reputation for being hotheaded.”

Welker again attempted to question Bessent about whether Trump has “made a determination” about whether the 10% tariffs will apply to all Canadian goods, prompting the Republican leader to dodge the question once again.

“Well, I’m sure he knows, and I’m sure [U.S. trade] Ambassador [Jamieson] Greer knows it. But, again, we are here in Asia and we are making great trade agreements in Asia,” he responded.

A furious Trump sharply condemned the 38-year-old ad that quoted Reagan criticizing Trump’s favorite economic tool (tariffs) in an April 25, 1987, radio address.

Calling the announcement a “fraudulent” and “hostile act” in a scathing Truth Post on Saturday night, Trump declared that due to the country’s “gross misrepresentation of facts,” he would impose an additional 10% tariff on Canada in retaliation for Reagan’s trade announcement.

The president also stated in the post that Reagan “loved tariffs for national security and economic reasons.”

In a separate Truth Social post, Trump also criticized the Ontario provincial government’s decision to continue airing the ad during World Series broadcasts in the United States.

“They could have done it tonight,” Trump said. “Well, that’s dirty play, but I can play dirtier than them, you know?”

Watch Bessent’s appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” below.

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