Trump demands damages from Canada over heavy smoke from Ontario wildfires

US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose additional tariffs on Canadian goods as punishment for the wildfire smoke that has blanketed cities across North America, escalating a transboundary dispute over air quality and forest management.

Speaking to reporters after attending the Fifa World Cup final in New Jersey, Trump said he had spoken with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about the blazes that have sent smoke across the US. “I have a good relationship with Mark Carney, but we’ve got to stop the fires up there,” Trump said. “Maybe they should pay us some damages or something, or we should do some tariffs.”

Heavy smoke from hundreds of fires in Ontario enveloped a swathe of the United States from the Midwest to the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic starting Thursday, prompting days of warnings to US residents to stay indoors where possible, as reported by one outlet. At one point on Saturday, smoke made New York the most polluted city in the world, followed by Toronto and Washington, according to air tracker IQAir.

Trump's social media post

In a post on social media on Friday, Trump complained about air quality and blamed Canadian governance for the fires. "We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush," Trump wrote. "The United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!"

He accused the Canadian government of negligence and said the cost would be added to existing tariffs on Canadian exports. "Maybe they should pay us some damages or something, or we should do some tariffs," Trump told reporters after returning from the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, where he said he spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Trump said he planned to call Carney to discuss Ottawa's plans for dealing with the blazes. According to one account, Trump told reporters, "We've got to stop the fires up there."

Tariff threats and Republican pressure

The tariff threat is the latest example of Trump using trade measures to exert pressure on foreign countries. Since returning to office in January 2025, he has used tariffs to pressure Canada on border security and trade practices, and has also floated the idea of making Canada a US state.

The threats have drawn support from some Republicans. Bernie Moreno, a Republican senator from Ohio, said he would introduce legislation to "sanction Canada and the responsible Canadian government officials for this atrocity."

Four Republican members of the House of Representatives from Michigan — a state bordering Ontario — wrote to Carney saying: "If Canada will not manage its forests to prevent these fires, the United States will look elsewhere and act on its own to protect our people." Michigan shares a water border with the Canadian province of Ontario.

Canada pushes back

Canadian officials have pushed back against the accusations. Carney told reporters that "fighting climate change is the responsibility of all countries," according to one account.

Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, where about 200 of the roughly 800 active fires in Canada are burning, said the US should send help rather than complain. "Maybe what you should do instead of complaining is send support, send help, because we have done the exact same thing for our American friends," Ford said, as reported.

The smoke and the fires

The fire and smoke crisis has affected both countries. Heavy smoke from hundreds of fires in Ontario enveloped a swath of the US from the Midwest to the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic starting Thursday, prompting days of warnings for residents to stay indoors. At one point on Saturday, smoke made New York the most polluted city in the world, followed by Toronto and Washington, according to air quality tracker IQAir.

Canadian officials were battling 896 active fires across the country, including about 200 in Ontario, where Ford said 81 were still out of control, according to one report.

Meanwhile, officials in the Canadian province of British Columbia said on Saturday that smoke from fires in the US — driven by thousands of lightning strikes in Washington state and Oregon — was creating smoky conditions in parts of Canada. "Much of this smoke is originating from fires south of the Canada-US border in Washington and Oregon," the provincial wildfire service said.

Key claims

• Trump has threatened to impose additional tariffs on Canada as a penalty for wildfire smoke affecting the US.
• Trump blamed Canadian governance for the fires, saying Canada has failed to properly manage its forests.
• Trump said he plans to call Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss the matter.
• Republican Senator Bernie Moreno announced plans to introduce legislation to sanction Canada over the fires.
• Four House Republicans from Michigan called on Canada to manage its forests or face US action.
• Scientists attribute the proliferation of wildfires to hot, dry conditions worsened by climate change, according to one report.
• Canadian officials, including Premier Doug Ford, have pushed back, saying the US should offer help rather than complain.
• Smoke from US fires has also drifted into Canada, affecting British Columbia, officials said.