That’s just wrong. Trump is too ignorant to know the truth which is that free trade was always GOP doctrine until he came along. Reagan certainly did NOT believe in tariffs which is clear in the speech from which the ad in question was taken:
Here’s the original clip of Ronald Reagan from April 25, 1987, where he delivered a complete and total rebuke against tariffs. Trump is calling Reagan’s words in this video “FAKE” and “fraudulent.” They’re 100% real. And the original clip is actually far worse for Trump, as much… https://t.co/koi1Udz77B pic.twitter.com/ZchQyPWPfU
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) October 24, 2025
If that’s an endorsement of tariffs then words have lost all meaning.
The beef from the Reagan Foundation, which started all this, was that the ad “misrepresents” Reagan’s address and Ontario’s government “did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks. I guess they were afraid Trump would get mad at them so, like every other Republican institution in America they abandoned every principle they, and Reagan, ever had in order to keep him happy. It’s enough to make you sick.
Here’s the ad in question which most certainly does NOT misrepresent Reagan’s speech.
The words that are directly taken from the speech are as follows and not not in any way change the meaning:
I’d love to know who told Trump that Reagan loved tariffs. It makes me laugh (mordantly) at the thought of it.
By the way, here’s another clip of Reagan condemning tariffs and praising Canada:
Reagan condemning US tariffs and praising Canada pic.twitter.com/GaDN40intL
— Morgan Cameron Ross (@Morgan_C_Ross) October 24, 2025