Trump is often angry but rarely hurt – yet Canada has managed to pull it off | Emma Brockes

For Donald Trump, being angry rarely translates to being truly hurt. His ire can be fleeting and trivial, while the provocation itself may not be that significant. However, this was not the case with a recent TV commercial from Canada that triggered a strong reaction from the US president.

The ad featured an audio clip of Ronald Reagan, recorded in 1987, denouncing tariffs as an instrument that "hurts every American worker". The sentiment wasn't altered, but Trump and his team attacked the ad's editing, declaring it "fake". What followed was a remarkable display of pique, with Trump doubling down by increasing tariffs on Canada and announcing a 10% hike over existing rates.

What's intriguing is not the ad itself, but why Trump responded so intensely. For one, Reagan has become an American icon, symbolizing unimpeachable authority and a connection to the country's heartland. The image of Reagan wearing a plaid cowboy shirt in the ad taps into this nostalgia, contrasting with Trump's own polished, high-gloss persona.

This raises questions about what drove Trump's reaction. Was it genuine outrage or simply a defensive response to being confronted with the truth? One possibility is that by criticizing the ad, Trump was trying to maintain his self-delusion – that he remains firmly rooted in the Republican party's soul and authority. The incident reveals a deeper pain point: confronting his own vulnerabilities and the fact that Reagan has become an enduring symbol of American leadership.

In this sense, Trump's overreaction is not just about tariffs or trade policy but about the status of Ronald Reagan relative to his own place within the US political landscape. By unleashing a 10% tariff hike on Canada, Trump may have inadvertently hurt US consumers and workers in the long run. What remains puzzling, however, is what triggered this response – and it's likely rooted in Trump's fundamental self-delusion.

I gotta say, this whole thing just left me shook ! I mean, who knew a 30-something year old TV ad could set off the president like that? And can we talk about how this says something deeper about Trump's psyche? He's basically trying to cling to the past and make Reagan his own personal icon, but in reality, he's just showing everyone what a huge insecurity he has . Like, dude, you're 10% tariff hike on Canada isn't gonna bring back your lost glory days... it's just gonna hurt regular people, you know?

lol what's up with trump's temper he gets all bent outta shape over some old video clip? i mean, come on, dude, you're like 75 now can't you just chill and let go of the past? it's not like reagan was a personal enemy or anything. btw, who edits audio clips to make someone sound like they're talking about trump? those editing skills are on point tho

I gotta say, I'm still tryna wrap my head around why Trump got so salty about that Canadian ad . It's not like the ad was trying to diss him or anything, just a simple clip of Reagan talking about tariffs. But for some reason, it hit a nerve and Trump just lost it . I think part of it is because Reagan has become this kinda legendary figure in America, you know? He's like the ultimate patriotic dude . And when that ad came out, it was like someone was waving a flag in his face, saying "hey, you're not as American as we thought" .

But honestly, I think Trump's reaction says more about him than anything else. Like, what's he really afraid of? That Reagan is gonna come back and haunt him or something? It's like he's trying to hold onto his own image and authority, but it's slipping away from him. And that's why he reacted so strongly – not because the ad was true or false, but because it was a reminder that there's this other guy out there who represents America in a way that Trump can't .

I mean, can you believe that Trump got so worked up over a 30-year-old ad? I don't get why he couldn't just take the criticism and move on. It's like, if you're really as tough as you claim to be, wouldn't you be able to handle a little thing like this?

And what's with all the fuss about Reagan being an American icon? Like, it's not like Trump is going to be remembered that way anytime soon. He'll probably just end up being another footnote in history. The fact that Trump got so defensive makes me think he's more worried about his own legacy than actually addressing the issues.

It's also kinda sad that he felt the need to lash out and impose tariffs on Canada. I mean, what's the real benefit here? Just to prove a point or to make himself look tough? It's like he's trying to buy his way out of dealing with the truth.

I agree that Trump's reaction was intense, but I'm not entirely convinced he was genuinely outraged... more like a defensive mechanism to avoid being called out on his own policies . That Reagan ad tapped into some serious nostalgia for the US heartland, which makes Trump's overreaction even more curious . It's almost like he was trying to prove he still had that " authority" vibe going on . The fact that he went ahead with increasing tariffs despite it being a pretty minor issue just goes to show how malleable truth is when it comes to his ego . I do worry about the impact on US consumers and workers, though... not sure what's more concerning, Trump's tariff hikes or his refusal to admit when he's wrong .

I think this whole thing is pretty wild Trump's reaction to that Canadian ad was intense, but I'm not surprised. The guy's got a reputation for being super defensive when people call him out on things.

For me, it's all about the symbolism with Reagan. He's like the ultimate American icon, and Trump can't stand that he's being associated with someone who actually had some good ideas about trade policy. I mean, Reagan was all about reducing tariffs and promoting free trade – basically the opposite of what Trump is doing.

And let's be real, Trump's ego is a huge part of this too . He can't handle people questioning his authority or his place in American politics. It's like he's trying to prove that he's still the big dog on the block.

The thing that really gets me, though, is how this whole thing reflects on US consumers and workers If Trump keeps up with these tariffs, it's going to hurt people who are just trying to make a living. It's like he's putting his own interests ahead of everyone else's – not exactly what I'd call "American leadership".

omg trump can be so extra like wot r u doin man? you're not even hurt by that ad but still get all up in arms about it... & now u r gonna hurt innocent americans with those tariffs i mean, come on dude, reagan is an icon, but he's also dead... can't you just let the past be the past? maybe ur really scared of losing that republican soul thingy

Umm, so like, I gotta say, Trump's reaction to that Canadian ad was kinda wild . I mean, come on, a 10% tariff hike on Canada? That's not exactly gonna make life better for American consumers and workers... it's actually gonna hurt 'em more in the long run, right? But, like, what really got Trump going was Reagan being mentioned, you feel me? It's like, Trump's trying to cling to this image of himself as some kind of strong leader dude, but deep down he knows he's not that secure. The ad just tapped into that insecurity and Trump was like, "No way, I'm gonna fight back!" But honestly, it's all about Trump's own self-delusion... and how he's trying to convince himself (and everyone else) that he's still got it . Anyway, it's just weird to see Trump getting so upset over something that's basically just a historical ad clip...

I don’t usually comment but it’s kinda weird how much Trump cares about being seen as that tough, cowboy dude from his commercials . Like, can’t he just admit he’s a politician too? The way Reagan is portrayed in the ad feels so innocent and nostalgic – I get why Trump would want to distance himself from that. But honestly, it feels like he's having some major identity crisis . Is it really about tariffs or is it just about keeping his ego intact? Either way, it’s gotta be pretty frustrating for people who actually care about trade policy .

I'm like totally convinced that Trump's reaction was a mix of both real anger and fake outrage... or maybe it's the other way around? I mean, on one hand, the fact that Reagan is an American icon and Trump doesn't want to be seen as being challenged by someone from Canada is definitely a thing. But at the same time, I'm pretty sure Trump would never admit to being "hurt" or "vulnerable"... unless he's trying to, like, convince himself of it? It's all super confusing and I'm just over here feeling like I don't know what's real anymore...