Former U.S. president Barack Obama mocked President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods during a campaign speech in Detroit on Oct. 24, 2026.
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Former U.S. president Barack Obama took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods during a campaign rally in Detroit, Michigan, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026.
Speaking at Cass Technical High School, Obama jokingly referred to Canada as a “well-known evil empire” and said Trump’s tariff war has upset Canadians while he also joked about making Canada the 51st state.
Obama said the effects of the tariffs are particularly visible in Michigan, where auto industry supply chains are deeply integrated with Canada and automakers have long said tariffs increase production costs.
The comments came after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney imposed dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs in September, following Trump’s decision to establish 50 per cent tariffs on billions of dollars in Canadian goods, including motor vehicles.
In response, Trump said he will lift some of those 50 per cent tariffs at the end of the month while adding tariffs to dozens of new products, including Canadian garbage and sewage.
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