Trump Urges Canada to Curb Ontario Wildfires, Floats Tariffs Over Smoke Impact

U.S. President Donald Trump said he urged Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to strengthen efforts to control the ongoing Ontario wildfires, arguing that the smoke drifting into the United States has disrupted daily life across multiple states and could warrant economic consequences.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday after attending the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, Trump said he discussed the issue directly with Carney during the event. While emphasizing that he maintains a positive relationship with the Canadian leader, Trump insisted that Canada must do more to contain the fires.

“I have a good relationship with Mark Carney, but we’ve got to stop the fires up there,” Trump said. He added that Canada might have to compensate the United States for the impact of the wildfire smoke or face additional tariffs on Canadian goods.

Trump’s remarks came a day after he threatened new tariffs in response to the cross-border smoke, which has significantly affected air quality in several U.S. regions. Since Thursday, smoke from hundreds of active wildfires in Ontario has spread across parts of the Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic, prompting health officials to issue repeated air quality alerts. Residents in many affected areas were advised to remain indoors whenever possible due to hazardous smoke conditions.

The office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney did not immediately comment on Trump’s latest statements.

Earlier, Carney highlighted Canada’s ongoing response to the wildfire crisis in a post on X, stating that more than 5,300 firefighting personnel have been deployed nationwide. He added that Canadian authorities are using advanced thermal imaging technology and real-time data to improve wildfire detection, monitoring, and suppression efforts.

According to official Canadian government figures, approximately 5.9 million acres, or about 2.4 million hectares, have burned during this year’s wildfire season. Scientists and climate experts have repeatedly warned that rising global temperatures are contributing to more frequent and intense wildfires worldwide, increasing the likelihood of prolonged fire seasons and worsening smoke pollution that can spread far beyond national borders.