Unofficial election rules: Microphones should always be considered hot, and anything you say can and will be used against you.
PC Leader Doug Ford suffered his first snap election stumble after failing to consider those adages at his campaign office in Etobicoke on Monday.
Ford was captured on a hot mic saying he was “100 per cent” happy that Donald Trump won the U.S. election — a declaration that his opponents in the upcoming Ontario election gleefully pounced on.
“As the election goes, was I happy this guy won?” Ford was captured saying. “One hundred per cent I was. Then the guy pulled out the knife and f*****g yanked it in me.”
Doug Fords hot mic moment. The PC Leader said Monday “On election day, was I happy this guy won? One hundred per cent I was. Then the guy pulled out the knife and f—ing yanked it in me” Ford said he’s no longer a Trump fan but the Liberals & NDP have been quick to pounce on it. pic.twitter.com/3ZUzEYxd0C
— Richard Southern (@RichardCityNews) February 4, 2025
Ford has used Trump’s tariff threat, which is now on hold, as justification for the early Ontario election, saying, “We need a clear mandate for four years of dealing with our American friends.”
Trump has also taunted Canadians repeatedly since winning the election, saying he wants Canada to become the 51st state — something he believes he could accomplish through “economic force.”
Even though Ford’s support of Trump may have predated that threat, his political rivals were quick to call him out for the ugly optics.
Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie even released an ad chastising Ford’s support for Trump.
“He was happy?” the ad questions. “Was he happy Canadians might lose their jobs? Was he happy about the threat of Canada becoming the 51st state?
“Or does he just care so little about the people of the province, that he saw an attack on Ontario as an opportunity for himself.”
“What else does he say when he thinks you’re not listening.”
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles was asked about Ford’s “happy” comment on Tuesday.
“He showed you who he is,” she said. “It’s a little bit sad that while Doug Ford is clearly a big fan of Donald Trump, Donald Trump doesn’t seem to be aware of who Doug Ford is.”
When asked about his support for Trump winning the election on Tuesday, Ford said: “I always believe in working with anyone.”
“I thought it would be a little different,” he added.
NEW – “I always believe in working with anyone” “I thought it would be a little different” says Ford when asked why he was pulling for Trump to win when it was clear he would likely levy tariffs against Canada again.
— Richard Southern (@RichardCityNews) February 4, 2025
Ford has appeared on network U.S. news several times since Trump threatened to slap a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods, even wearing a “Canada Is Not For Sale” hat as he argued for a stronger trade alliance, rather than a trade war.
When the tariffs seemed inevitable, Ford called them “unjustified, unfair and frankly illegal” and was poised to rip up a $100-million deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to deliver high-speed internet to remote areas, and pull all American products off LCBO shelves.
On Monday, President Trump announced that he was pausing tariffs on both Canada and Mexico for 30 days after both countries announced bolstered border security plans, prompting Ford to back off on his retaliatory threats.