Trump blames Canada for wildfire smoke, threatens added tariffs
Wildfire smoke blankets US and Canadian skies
Heavy wildfire smoke darkened skies in the U.S. on Thursday from the Great Lakes to parts of the East Coast, reducing visibility and prompting warnings that breathing the air outside could be dangerous. FOX's Asher Redd joined LiveNOW's Josh Breslow from Toronto, Canada with more.
President Donald Trump is blaming Canada for the country’s uncontrolled wildfires that brought smoky conditions and unhealthy air quality to a large swath of the U.S. this week.
The president also said "billions of dollars" should be added to the tariffs Canada is already paying the U.S. to cover the cost of wildfire smoke.
Trump threatens Canada over wildfires
What they're saying:
In a post on Truth Social Friday, Trump said the U.S. "is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!"
"We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein …" Trump wrote. "I will call the Prime Minister during the day to find out what they are going to do about it. The cost is incalculable!
"Canada has refused to engage in basic Forest Management and Debris Removal, knowing that such refusal will lead to exactly this result. 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP"
People sit near the Brooklyn Bridge as wildfire smoke from Canada causes hazy conditions on July 16, 2026 in New York. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images)
Trump’s comments echoed a few other conservative politicians in blaming Canada for the blazes.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin criticized Canada in a social media video, and Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio said he plans to introduce a bill next week that would "sanction Canada and the responsible Canadian government officials for this atrocity."
The other side:
Canada has long partnered with the U.S. to combat wildfires, often sending firefighters and supplies as it did when wildfires ripped through Los Angeles last year.
"This is a shared challenge, and it demands a shared response," U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said in a statement Wednesday, according to Politico. "I commend the outstanding cooperation between the United States and Canada as we confront these fires together. Our two governments are monitoring and sharing information in real time — coordination that reflects our partnership at its best."
What really causes wildfires?
Dig deeper:
Despite Trump’s claims that poor forest management is the reason for so many wildfires in Canada, experts say rising global temperatures from climate change are to blame.
"Wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense because of climate change, and when a fire happens, you have smoke," Colleen Reid, a University of Colorado geographic health professor, told The Associated Press.
By the numbers:
So far this year, more than 5,740 square miles of the U.S. has burned from wildfires. That’s 31% more than the average of the previous 10 years, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The amount of U.S. land burned each year in the 2020s — averaged out over a decade — is now more than twice what it was 30 years ago.
Europe saw a record high amount of land burned in 2025, while Canada has had several record or near-record fire years in the 2020s and the Arctic recently has had unprecedented levels of burning.
Canadian wildfire smoke causes air quality alerts in U.S.
Orange smokey skies cover parts of the Northeast due to wildfires in Canada. Prompting questions about health concerns and safety. LiveNOW’s Anna Marsick talks with Dr. Joseph Khabbaza to discuss the wildfire smoke.
Wildfires latest
Local perspective:
As of Friday, areas of Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois closest to the Canadian border had some of the worst air quality in the world. Moderate to unhealthy air levels are expected to linger through Saturday across parts of the Midwest and Northeast, including New York City and Washington, DC, but temporary relief could come with rains and storms forecast this weekend.
MORE: Air quality today: Track Canada wildfire smoke across the US | Live map
Still, smoky conditions will remain as hundreds of wildfires burn uncontrolled across a remote region of Canada. Wildfires in a Minnesota wilderness forest are also adding to the poor air quality.
MORE: Minnesota wildfires continue burning, officials warn this could last 'all summer'
How wildfire smoke attacks the body
Why you should care:
According to The Associated Press, long-term exposure to wildfire smoke can compound existing health conditions and lead to serious problems like respiratory illness, cardiovascular and neurological diseases and premature death.
RELATED: Wildfire smoke pollution linked to more than 24K deaths a year, study finds
Will it be smoky for the World Cup final?
What's next:
According to Sky News, White House officials are scheduled to meet with FIFA President Gianni Infantino Friday afternoon to talk about what the wildfire smoke could mean for Sunday’s World Cup final match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday.
MORE: Spain vs. Argentina final preview: Messi, Lamine Yamal collide for World Cup title
There have been concerns that air quality could impact the match between Spain and Argentina. .
Forecasters say winds are expected to continue pushing the wildfire smoke east in the U.S., though conditions should be better on game day Sunday than on Saturday.
The Source: This article includes information from President Donald Trump’s Truth Social account, The Associated Press, Politico, Sky News and previous FOX Local reporting.