Trump looks to punish Canada for wildfires? Treat our allies better.

Opinion>Opinions - Lindsey's Lens The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill Trump looks to punish Canada for wildfires? Treat our allies better. Comments: by Lindsey Granger, opinion contributor - 07/21/26 1:43 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Lindsey Granger, opinion contributor - 07/21/26 1:43 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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President Trump is treating one of America’s closest allies like an enemy — again.

The president has officially put Canada on notice over the wildfires and suggested the country should now pay the U.S. damages over the smoke drifting across the border.

“I told them, I mean, ‘You got to stop these fires from coming in and, you know, poisoning our air,’ our air has been poisoned. I have a good relationship with Mark Carney, but you know we got to stop the fires up there. If we can help them, we’ll help them. But maybe they should pay us some damages or something, or we should do some tariffs.”

Yes, smoke from Canada’s wildfires has hurt air quality across parts of the United States. But these aren’t fires the Canadian government simply decided not to put out. Many of this summer’s largest fires were sparked by lightning strikes. As of this week, Canada is battling more than 800 active wildfires, with more than 180 considered out of control.

And we, as a country, know exactly what that’s like.

Every year, Americans battle catastrophic wildfires from California to the Pacific Northwest. This year alone, the U.S. has recorded nearly 40,000 wildfires, burning more than 3 million acres.

That’s why Ontario Premier Doug Ford had this response on CNN. “When neighbors need help, you go and support them, just like we did with Hurricane Helene. We sent over 50 utility trucks down there, over 100 people down there to support the people in the Carolinas and Georgia. We had people ready out west to support the California fires. … We need support, we need help right now.”

These are our neighbors! Canada has historically been our friends. They’ve helped us fight fires. They’ve helped restore power after hurricanes. Their emergency crews have crossed our border repeatedly when Americans needed help.

For everyone blaming Canada for blaming forest mismanagement, Canada’s emergency preparedness minister says the country has invested roughly 12 billion Canadian dollars over the last five years in wildfire prevention and forest sustainability.

Rather than pointing fingers, let’s help our allies address a natural disaster like they have helped us in the past. We’re already locked in tariff fights over Canadian steel, aluminum and lumber. We’re actively deteriorating our relationship with the country.

Canadians were historically America’s largest group of international visitors. But amid rising political tensions and trade disputes, Canadian travel to the U.S. has fallen dramatically, down roughly 29 percent compared to 2024, costing American businesses billions in tourism spending.

It’s OK to have healthy disagreements and negotiate with allies, but when disaster strikes, allies should not reach punishment first.

Lindsey Granger is a NewsNation contributor and co-host of The Hill’s commentary show “Rising.” This column is an edited transcription of her on-air commentary.

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