President Donald Trump recently spoke about a dispute involving aircraft certification with Canada, explaining that his threat to impose a 50 percent tariff on Canadian aircraft sold to the U.S. originated from a situation involving a wealthy friend trying to buy a private jet. During a press briefing in the Oval Office, Trump recounted how his friend faced challenges in getting a Gulfstream jet certified in Canada, where Bombardier's Global Express posed competition. Trump said his friend connected him with Gulfstream, which had reportedly spent $60 million over nine years attempting to secure certification in Canada without success. Trump claimed he then threatened to impose tariffs on Bombardier until the certification was completed. According to his account, the issue was resolved quickly, though official records show that Transport Canada certified the Gulfstream G500 and G600 on February 16 and the G700 and G800 on February 23—26 days after Trump first posted about the issue. Ultimately, the tariffs were never imposed. Trump also mentioned a phone call he had with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who reportedly asked about the situation. Trump claimed he informed Trudeau of the U.S. intent to impose tariffs on products including Bombardier aircraft and said the certification was resolved quickly. However, the timeline of events does not match the actual dates of the certification process. In addition, Trump reiterated his claims about economic grievances against Canada, stating the U.S. loses "anywhere from 60 to $100 billion" annually in trade deficits with Canada. However, data from the U.S. Trade Representative’s office shows a $48.3 billion goods trade deficit with Canada in 2025, down 21 percent from the previous year. The U.S. also has a $27.7 billion services surplus, resulting in a combined trade gap of roughly $21 billion. Trump also repeated a false claim that American banks are barred from operating in Canada, despite the presence of 16 U.S. bank subsidiaries and branches in the country, including Citibank, which has been operating in Canada since 1919. When asked about trade talks with Canada, Trump suggested the U.S. does not need trade with Canada, stating, “They need us, we don't need them. They've taken advantage of us for years, and it's time to stop.” He described Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a “nice guy” but criticized Ontario’s Conservative Party premier Doug Ford, calling him a “slob.” The renewed trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada show no signs of abating.