US President Donald Trump has expressed anger over smoke from ongoing Canadian wildfires spreading across large parts of the United States, accusing Canada of negligence and warning that new tariffs on Canadian goods could be imposed in response.
According to a report by Reuters, thick wildfire smoke from Canada has blanketed wide areas of the Midwest and Northeast United States. The situation has prompted US health authorities to advise residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities and remain indoors when possible.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the United States was being subjected to “unnecessary dirty and unhealthy air.” He claimed that Canada’s “intentional negligence” was causing billions of dollars in damage to the US and said the consequences would be reflected through tariffs imposed on Canadian products.
Trump also said he plans to discuss the issue with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski said in a statement that, since 2020, the Canadian government has invested 12 billion Canadian dollars in forest conservation and wildfire prevention efforts to address increasing risks caused by climate change and dry conditions.
She said the two countries have a long history of cooperation in managing wildfires along the border and that ensuring public safety remains their top priority.
Mike Flannigan, a professor at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, said global warming is contributing to a rise in extreme weather events and wildfires. He described such disasters as a consequence of climate change.
Trump, who returned to office in 2025, had previously imposed tariffs on Canada. The Reuters report also noted that Trump and Carney may meet on the sidelines of the FIFA World Cup final scheduled for Sunday.
According to official data, more than 650,000 acres of forest land have been burned by wildfires in Canada’s Ontario province this year. Meanwhile, data from the National Interagency Fire Center show that nearly 3.7 million acres of land in the United States have also been affected by wildfires so far this year.
Source: Reuters