Confrontation at the World Cup

US President Donald Trump confronted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the FIFA World Cup Final on Sunday, demanding that Canada get control of wildfires whose smoke has been drifting into the United States. Trump recounted the exchange after returning to Washington, saying he told Carney "you got to stop these fires from coming in and poisoning our air." He added that if the US helps, "maybe they should pay us some damages or something, or we should do some tariffs." The two leaders attended the match at New York New Jersey Stadium alongside Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, representing the three host nations.

Ford fires back

Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Monday dismissed Trump's tariff threats as "rubbish" and urged the US president to support his allies rather than threaten them. "I get frustrated just listening to a bunch of rubbish," Ford told reporters. He pointed to Canada's assistance during past US disasters, including sending waterbombers to California wildfires and utility workers to the American southeast after Hurricane Helene in 2024. Ford also highlighted his "incredible relationship" with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a former Democratic vice presidential candidate, who once called for help with stranded YMCA campers and received Ontario Provincial Police and Canadian Armed Forces support.

“You should support your neighbors. That's my message to the president. Sorry to go on a little rant, but it drives me crazy.”

Fires on the ground

More than 900 wildfires are burning across Canada, forcing thousands of evacuations and scorching some 28,000 square kilometres of land. In Ontario alone, nearly 200 fires are active, with 57 out of control, and about 1,800 people have been evacuated. The Whitewater Lake First Nation, a seasonal community with no full-time residents, was burned over the weekend, destroying infrastructure, homes, and personal property. Chief Pauline Drake described the loss of beaches, fishing grounds, and wildlife.

“It was full of beaches, sand beaches, good fishing, good hunting - the wildlife was beautiful. We had eagles that were always there. I don't know how the wildlife is now.”

In British Columbia, the entire city of Kimberley, home to some 9,000 people, has been placed under an evacuation alert. Carney said in a statement that more than 5,000 firefighters and nearly 300 waterbombers, helicopters, and evacuation aircraft have been mobilized.

Political fallout

California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff took to social media to condemn Trump's remarks, calling them "the threats and ramblings of a failing leader." He noted that Canadian firefighters helped battle blazes in his state in 2025 and 2020. "When California was burning, Canada sent fire fighters, planes and assistance -- not insults," Schiff wrote. Ford is heading to Prince Edward Island for a meeting with Carney and fellow premiers, where he plans to push for a national wildfire strategy. "We need a large national fire strategy. We seem to be going through this every single year," Ford said.

Trump's justification

Trump first threatened higher tariffs on Canada in a social media post on Friday, as thick smoke from the fires shrouded Washington DC and New York City. He accused Canada of "Willful Negligence" in forest management, calling the smoke "filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air" that is "invading" the United States. The wildfires began on July 6 when a summer thunderstorm triggered over 1,000 lightning strikes across Canada and northeastern Minnesota, igniting dry woodland. Smoke was so severe in Detroit on Thursday that workers at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant were sent to hospitals by ambulance, according to The Detroit Free Press. Trump said he had never seen such smoke events before the last four or five years.