One Canadian leader said American lawmakers should send help, rather than complain.
President Trump says that the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by unhealthy air as wildfires burn in Canada. He accused Canada of not properly maintaining its forests and brush, calling it quote willful negligence. He said the cost of pollution must be added to the tariffs that Canada is currently paying. Other Republicans on Capitol Hill have also criticized Canada over the widespread wildfire smoke. Ohio Senator Bernie Marino, for example, said he would introduce *** bill to impose sanctions on the country. Another group of Republicans in *** letter suggested sending US agencies across the border to manage the problem. Responding to criticism earlier this week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney suggested that the United States should do more to fight climate change, which scientists say is *** factor in worsening wildfires. The Premier of Ontario had this message. I truly believe the Americans are good neighbors. If there’s some politicians out there chirping away, well, maybe what you should do rather than complain is send support, send help, because we have done the exact same thing. For our American friends, in *** statement Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency said that they remain continuously engaged with Canadian leadership and that they are strongly encouraging them to do everything in their power to extinguish the fires as soon as possible. In Washington, I’m Jackie DeFusco.
Updated: 8:57 AM EDT Jul 18, 2026
Editorial Standards ⓘ
Trump threatens tariffs on Canada as US is ‘unnecessarily invaded’ by wildfire smoke
One Canadian leader said American lawmakers should send help, rather than complain.
President Donald Trump threatened Canada with tariffs over wildfire smoke that is drifting across the border and blanketing large portions of the United States, from the Great Lakes to parts of the East Coast.
The smoke has reduced visibility in several major U.S. cities and prompted air quality alerts, with some areas dealing with “hazardous” conditions.
“We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable,” Trump wrote on social media Friday. “This is Willful Negligence, and becoming a yearly occurrence, costing the United States Billions of Dollars, which cost of this pollution must of necessity be added to the TARIFFS Canada is currently paying.”
Trump did not offer further specifics on a potential tariff hike, although his power to quickly deploy new import taxes was limited by a U.S. Supreme Court decision earlier this year.
Other Republicans on Capitol Hill have also criticized Canada’s response. Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno said he would introduce a billnext week “to sanction Canada and the responsible Canadian government officials for this atrocity.”
In a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, four Republicans representing hard-hit Michigan suggested potentially sending U.S. agencies across the border to manage the problem in the future.
“Our constituents are breathing the consequences of this failure right now, and they deserve better than to be told, again, that it will be handled,” the lawmakers wrote.
Carney did not immediately respond to Trump’s tariff threats or specific comments from members of Congress. When asked generally about criticism from American lawmakers Thursday, Carney said the United States should be doing more to combat climate change, which scientists say is contributing to worsening wildfires.
Doug Ford, premier of Ontario, also responded Friday.
“I truly believe the Americans are good neighbors. If there’s some politicians out there chirping away, well, maybe what you should do, rather than complain, is send support, send help, because we have done the exact same thing for our American friends,” Ford said.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a statement Friday saying that it will “do everything in the agency’s authority” to protect human health and the environment.
“We are going to remain continuously engaged with Canadian leadership at the highest levels of their government and strongly encourage them to do everything in their power to extinguish these fires as fast as possible,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
Check out the EPA’s AirNow Fire and Smoke Mapto monitor air quality in your area. You can also download the AirNow app for free.
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