Ronald Reagan’s son is telling fans of his father that they’re wrong to use him to criticize Donald Trump’s position on tariffs.
Michael Reagan, the adopted son of the 40th president and his first wife Jane Wyman, is a conservative commentator and runs the Reagan Legacy Foundation.
As President Trump takes heat for his tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, some have reportedly used a speech President Reagan gave in 1987 to slam Trump.
The New York Post reported JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has been sharing the video which features Reagan calling them ‘stupid.’
However, Reagan’s 79-year-old son went on social media Friday to confirm his father’s position evolved over time.
‘Yes, my father spoke about Tariffs when he was POTUS… that was 40yrs ago, it is different time with a different POTUS,’ he said.
He ordered others to ‘for Gods sake quit using my father to bash Trump.’
Reagan claimed that many ‘all of a sudden’ support his father but when he was president, ‘treated him like you are treating Trump today.’
Ronald Reagan’s son Michael is telling fans of his father that they’re wrong to use him to criticize Donald Trump ‘s position on tariffs
As President Trump takes heat for his tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China , some have reportedly used a speech President Reagan gave in 1987 to slam Trump
‘Give Trump time and get out of the way,’ Reagan finished.
In other posts to X, Reagan showed examples of speeches his father gave in support of tariffs and ones he’d levied himself, including on Japanese goods in 1987.
‘Remember my dad ended up kicking your a**es,’ he added.
The full quote from President Reagan in the video being cited goes: ”We’re in the same boat with our trading partners. If one partner shoots a hole in the boat, does it make sense for the other one to shoot another hole in the boat? Some say, yes, and call that getting tough. Well, I call it stupid.’
Reagan gave the talk while at Camp David in 1987.
On Friday, Trump continued his trade war with outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, threatening a new hefty tax on dairy and lumber from Canada.
‘Canada has been ripping us off for years on lumber and on dairy products,’ Trump said in the Oval Office.
‘We may do it as early as today, or we’ll wait until Monday or Tuesday,’ he previewed. ‘We’re going to charge the same thing. It’s not fair. It never has been fair, and they’ve treated our farmers badly.’
Reagan’s 79-year-old son went on social media Friday to confirm his father’s position evolved over time
The threat came a day after Trump announced a major reversal on his recent tariffs on goods and services from Mexico and Canada.
On Tuesday, the U.S. imposed 25 percent tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada rocketing the country into a trade war.
But just days later, Trump reversed his economic slap down saying that goods that are compliant with the North American free trade agreement with not be tariffed until April 2.
The president said earlier Thursday that he is enforcing a one-month pause out of ‘respect’ for President Sheinbaum because the country has agreed to his conditions to halt the flow of fentanyl through the southern border.
Canada will also be getting a similar extension, Trump announced to reporters during a gaggle in the Oval Office hours later.
‘After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under the USMCA Agreement,’ he said on Truth Social.
The agreement will last until April 2 and was done ‘out of respect for’ Sheinbaum.
‘Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl. Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation!’
President Donald Trump signaled Friday he was ready to get tougher on Russia in an effort to end the conflict in Ukraine
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick teased on CNBC that the president is also mulling a similar exemption for Canada.
Trump also announced on Wednesday that he is rolling back tariffs for auto imports from the neighboring countries.
‘We spoke with the Big Three auto dealers. We are going to give a one-month exemption on any autos coming through USMCA. Reciprocal tariffs will still go into effect on April 2,’ press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during the White House press briefing Wednesday.
That came one day after Trump met with the ‘Big Three’ automakers – General Motors, Ford and Stellantis.
The Trump administration appeared ready to blink first as the markets took a massive tumble this week, and Canada and China announced reciprocal tariffs.
But the trade war between the U.S. and major trade partners is far from over.
‘I don’t want anybody to forget, April 2 is the day that we announce our reciprocal tariffs around the world,’ Lutnick noted.
Trump also warned Moscow he was ‘strongly considering’ imposing sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and peace agreement is reached with Ukraine.
It marks a shift in tone after Trump worried allies with warm words about how trusted President Vladimir Putin and a call for Moscow to be readmitted to the G7 .
A senior administration official said ‘the president’s has intensified over Russia escalating as he’s trying to get both sides to the table.’
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to express his fury.
‘Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely “pounding” Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED,’ he posted.
‘To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late.’
He offered no further details on his plans.
However, the U.S., Europe and other nations have already imposed thousands of sanctions on Russia—focused on the oil industry and finance sector—designed to hobble its economy and increase pressure to end the war.
