A Short Cartoon History of Doug Ford with Donald Trump
An Election about Trump? An Election about Ford? Or, An Election about Ford love / disdain for Trump?
Editorial Cartoons by Graeme MacKay – Monday February 10, 2025
The relationship between Doug Ford and Donald Trump offers a unique look at Canadian politics. While Ford has recently tried to project a “Captain Canada” image, promoting unity and Canadian values, he often found himself influenced by Trump’s more populist divisive style. Instances like the hot mic incident, where Ford expressed admiration for Trump, highlight this complexity.
News: Ford tries to explain his hot mic comment about Donald Trump
Look no further than my past editorial cartoons to chronicle Ford’s journey alongside Trump—from the impact of Trump’s tariffs to Ford’s comments about Mexico. Through these cartoons, I try to highlight the interesting and sometimes contradictory ways these two leaders have interacted in the political landscape. Ford’s conversion on the road to Damascus only happened recently as I hope these cartoons demonstrate:
As late as December 3, 2024, Trump wasn’t the focus of Doug Ford’s vitriol, it was Mexico, as depicted below with the Ontario Premier’s chokehold:
December 3, 2024
By November 22, 2024, several weeks after the U.S. election, both Ford and Pierre Poilievre had grown notably silent as the reality of a Trump 2.0 administration began to take shape. The initial excitement surrounding the billions in provincial investments for electric vehicle batteries started to fade, overshadowed by the resurgence of the “Drill Baby Drill” mentality, which threatened to tarnish the prospects of green ventures with a grim shade of brown:
November 22, 2024
On November 16, 2024, I found myself speculating on how the rightward shift in the U.S. might ripple through politics in Canada and beyond. Just a week prior, I had sketched a similar alignment with Pierre Poilievre. In tandem with his alignment to Trump, Doug Ford began ramping up his rhetoric against Mexico, promoting a vision he called “Fortress Am-Can,” which seemed more like a gimmick than a genuine policy initiative. Speaking of gimmicks and the way life often mirrors cartoons, Doug has frequently been spotted in his blue OINFS hat (Ontario is Not For Sale). Meanwhile, Pierre Poilievre, the master of catchy slogans, introduced his own: “Canada First”:
November 16, 2024
It’s quite common to draw comparisons between politicians and Donald Trump, especially among those on the further right; the more right-leaning a Canadian politician is, the more likely they are to align their policies with Trump. Figures like Kevin O’Leary, Maxime Bernier, and Kellie Leitch exemplify this “Trumpy” brand of Canadian politics. While many are quick to liken Doug Ford to Trump, I’ve been more cautious in making that connection, aside from the superficial similarity of their yellow hair. Ford does not fit the mold of a traditional right-wing Premier; in fact, he has outspent previous Liberal leaders. Reflecting on February 27, 2024, when Ford admitted to appointing judges with Progressive Conservative leanings to provincial courts, it echoed the controversial practice of stacking the Supreme Court with Trump Republicans:
February 28, 2024
Turn back the clock to this April 27, 2020 editorial cartoon, the world was six weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when resistance to mandates and public health expertise was starting to gain traction. Donald Trump was at the forefront of this anti-science movement, while politicians competing for the Conservative Party leadership echoed his erratic views. Doug Ford, however, expressed disdain for this mentality, lumping these dissenters together and labelling them as “yahoos.” His response highlighted a stark contrast between his approach and that of those rallying against public health measures:
April 28, 2020
Doug Ford’s April 14, 2018 firing of Hydro One executives echoed the brash reality-TV persona of Donald Trump from his show, The Apprentice. This dramatic move not only showcased Ford’s willingness to make bold, decisive actions but also reflected a style of leadership that prioritized spectacle and authority, reminiscent of Trump’s approach to management and public relations:
April 14, 2018
Back to the early days, June 15, 2018, Donald Trump was already causing concern in Canada with his imposition of tariffs during the early months of his presidency. As Doug Ford began his tenure as Premier, he found himself grappling with the immediate impacts of these Trump tariffs, dealing with a complex economic landscape that threatened to strain relations between the two countries and challenge Ford’s leadership right from the outset.
June 15, 2018
Doug Ford’s relationship with Donald Trump has been marked by both admiration and contradiction, culminating in a complex political unfolding. Given their intertwined paths, it should come as no surprise that the Bonnie Crombie Liberals capitalized on the perception that Ford was pleased with Trump’s reelection in 2024. This connection underscores the ongoing challenges Ford faces as he navigates his leadership role while balancing his own image against the backdrop of a divisive figure like Trump.