Trump confronts Carney at World Cup over wildfire smoke as U.S. senator says Canada needs help not threats

U.S. President Donald Trump continues to consider hitting Canada with tariffs over the country’s smoke-producing wildfires. But at least one U.S. politician is countering that what this country needs is help, not economic threats. And Ontario’s premier dismissed the notion of more tariffs as “rubbish.”

Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney were both in New Jersey on Sunday for the FIFA World Cup final, and could be seen talking with each other behind the glass of the viewing platform.

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in nearby Maryland afterward, Trump outlined what was said between the two leaders, and raised the issue of reparations over smoke from wildfires that are burning in Canada.

“I told him you’ve got to stop these fires from coming in and poisoning our air, our air’s been poisoned,” Trump said. “I have a good relationship with Mark Carney but, you know, we’ve got to stop the fires up there. If we can help them we’ll help them but maybe they should pay us some damages or something, or we should do some tariffs?”

He continued: “It was terrible. I mean, you had businesses closing. In particular Michigan … Detroit Michigan, they had to close everything, they had to close car plants and a lot of other things. I’ve never remembered this happening. Over the last four or five years you saw it starting to take place.”

President Donald Trump said he spoke to Mark Carney at the FIFA Cup final in East Rutherford New Jersey and told him he needs to stop the fires.The President said poisonous smoke is pouring into the U.S. which has caused businesses and plants to close down. pic.twitter.com/Ra1XnVdqrz

— Beautifulcanada1 (@BeautifulCana1) July 20, 2026

Trump on Friday threatened to increase tariffs on Canada over wildfire smoke that has “unnecessarily” invaded the U.S. In a Truth Social post last week he said: “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!”

He added: “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.”

But Adam Schiff, a Democratic Senator from California, pushed back on that idea. “When California was burning, Canada sent fire fighters, planes and assistance — not insults,” he wrote in a social media post on Sunday.

Canada has sent firefighting crews to California numerous times over the years , most recently in January, 2025.

When California was burning, Canada sent fire fighters, planes and assistance — not insults. I was proud to meet them, and to thank them, when they would break for dinner.As California and other states step up to repay the favor, we should do so without the threats and… https://t.co/NO6K3eZdvn

— Senator Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) July 19, 2026

“I was proud to meet them, and to thank them, when they would break for dinner,” Schiff wrote in his post. “As California and other states step up to repay the favor, we should do so without the threats and ramblings of a failing leader. We should show some humanity.”

The topic also came up Monday morning during a media event with Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

“Maybe if he got rid of the tariffs on softwood lumber it might make a difference, until we can harvest these areas and ship them down,” said Ford. “I’ve got to remind President Trump that 33 per cent of the lumber — and we have better quality lumber here in Canada — comes from Canada to build their homes.”

He added: “He’s wondering why the housing costs of building is going up. Because he’s putting tariffs on his number one trading partner. Maybe President Trump would offer his closest allies and friends some support rather than sit there and threaten tariffs.”

I’m at the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre this morning to provide another update on the fires in northern Ontario. Tune in here: https://t.co/vuBTHOtcW2

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) July 20, 2026

Ford noted there are currently 3.9 million acres (about 1.6 million hectares) of forest fires in the U.S., and that one of the largest started in Minnesota, “and that’s not a knock against Minnesota, because Governor Walz and I have a tremendous relationship.”

He also recalled that when Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the U.S. in 2024, Ontario sent hydro crews to help restore power.

“That’s what we do,” he said. “So rather than criticize and threaten Canada, your closest friends, maybe one day you’re gong to need our help like you did last year, and we deployed the people. I get frustrated just listening to this bunch of rubbish.”

• How Ontario First Nation escaped raging wildfire that burned down their community
• Scott Stinson: Trump threatens to tariff Canada over 'filthy air' after Ford blasts U.S. for wildfire 'chirping'

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