Who is Doug Ford, the Canadian Challenging Trump?

As global leaders grapple with how to navigate the new Trump administration, one Canadian official has stepped forward with boldness.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, frequently appearing on major US networks to communicate directly with Americans, was among the first in Canada to remove US alcohol from store shelves as trade tensions intensified between the two countries.

He also terminated a multimillion-dollar agreement with Elon Musk’s Starlink and has shown readiness to leverage energy exports to the US as a negotiating tool—aiming to persuade President Donald Trump to retract his tariff threats against Canada.

This week, it seemed that Ford’s approach had caught Trump’s attention.

While speaking to reporters on the White House lawn on Tuesday, the US president referred to Ford as a “very strong man” in light of Ontario’s threat to impose a 25% surcharge on electricity heading to the US.

Ford has since postponed that plan while awaiting further discussions with the Trump administration. Nevertheless, his warning about increasing electricity costs for Americans appears to have earned him a grudging respect from Trump, who subsequently stepped back from plans to escalate tariffs on aluminum and steel to 50%.

This situation also enabled Ford to secure a meeting in Washington with US officials to discuss the future of Canada-US trade relations.

On Thursday, Ford is anticipated to sit down for negotiations with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, with Canada’s Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc also in attendance.

It remains uncertain whether Ford’s confrontational stance will result in greater concessions from Trump. This approach, however, has not been universally embraced, as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has openly criticized withholding her province’s energy exports to the US.

Trump’s recent readiness to ease tensions suggests that Ford might be making headway in capturing the US administration’s attention, according to Shakir Chambers, a Canadian Conservative strategist at the Toronto-based Oyster Group.

“You have to engage with Trump from a position of strength,” Mr Chambers remarked to the BBC. “Ford speaks the language of Trump’s circle.”

He has even received a rare expression of praise from the US president, who has, for months, criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by referring to him as “governor” and expressing a desire to make Canada “the 51st state”.

It’s also uncommon for the Oval Office to pay heed to the premier of a Canadian province, whose daily responsibilities typically involve domestic issues like infrastructure development, healthcare funding, and federal cooperation.

However, these are not typical circumstances in Canada, where a political transition is underway, moving from outgoing Prime Minister Trudeau to Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney.

Canada is also facing what has been described as an “existential threat” from its southern neighbour and longtime ally.

When announcing his decision to pause energy tariffs pending trade discussions, Ford assured Canadians that he would not “back down,” while emphasizing that utilizing Ontario’s energy supply as leverage remains a possibility.

Nevertheless, he expressed his intention not to overlook the opportunity to resolve this conflict with American counterparts.

His role as the face of Canada’s battle is quite logical; as the premier of Ontario, he oversees a province housing 16 million residents and Canada’s significant auto manufacturing sector, which is closely linked to that of the US, making it susceptible to sweeping tariff threats.

In addition, he assumes leadership of the Council of the Federation, a collective body comprising all of Canada’s provincial and territorial premiers.

On Wednesday, Ford was busy preparing for his meeting with American officials. He connected with incoming Prime Minister Carney over breakfast, where they discussed the necessity of “standing firm and strong” against Trump.

The American public can expect to see more of Ford in the near future. He has recently secured re-election for another four years, emphasizing a platform centered on standing tall against the US president.

Among Ontarians, Ford is a household name, having led the province since 2018, and is only the second premier in its history to achieve three consecutive majority government victories.

He hails from a Toronto political lineage known as “Ford Nation”, having been previously overshadowed by his younger brother Rob Ford, who served as mayor of Toronto from 2010 to 2014 until he was ousted amid a crack cocaine scandal.

The Ford family is notorious locally for their “authentic” and approachable political style, as noted by Mr Chambers, who shared that he was coached in high school football by the younger Ford.

Premier Ford is known for distributing his personal cell phone number to constituents, encouraging them to reach out directly. During a recent news conference on US tariffs, he urged patience as he dealt with more than 4,000 text messages he has received in recent times.

Despite his popularity, the premier is also mired in several controversies. Paramount among them is an ongoing police investigation into a now-abandoned deal his administration brokered to develop environmentally-protected land.

On the national front, he has clashed with Alberta Premier Smith, who has advocated for a more cautious and prudent response to Trump and his tariffs.

This measured approach has been mirrored by other leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, both of whom adopted a more diplomatic stance during their February visits to the White House.

However, Ford’s defiant approach toward Trump enjoys widespread support across Canada. Polls indicate that most Canadians advocate for retaliatory actions against the US, resulting in a surge of nationalism throughout the nation.

While Ford has been assertive, he has also exercised caution in his direct appeals to Americans.

“I assure you, I don’t wish to embark on this,” he stated earlier this week when he unveiled his plans to elevate electricity prices, reinforcing that his foremost priority is to safeguard Ontario jobs.

Mr Chambers anticipates that this conciliatory but firm approach will resonate during Thursday’s meeting.