Ontario Premier Doug Ford is demanding a formal apology from United States Ambassador David Cohen following what he called "disrespectful" comments about Canadian political leadership during coverage of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
The diplomatic tension erupted after Cohen appeared on CTV's Question Period, where he suggested Canadian leaders were so focused on the Trump shooting that "the cheese slipped off the cracker" in terms of their political attention.
Ford Fires Back at 'Unacceptable' Remarks
Premier Ford didn't mince words when addressing the ambassador's unusual food metaphor. "The cheese slipped off the cracker with him, not us," Ford declared to reporters at an unrelated announcement in Hamilton.
The Ontario leader expressed particular offense at the timing of Cohen's comments, noting they came during coverage of a serious political violence incident. "When someone's life is in danger, and you have an assassination attempt, you don't make light of it," Ford stated emphatically.
Timing and Tone Draw Criticism
Ford emphasized that his criticism wasn't about the substance of political disagreement but rather the inappropriate timing and dismissive nature of the ambassador's remarks. "You can say anything about me—I have thick skin," Ford acknowledged, "but making light of a situation where someone almost lost their life crosses the line."
The premier's office confirmed that Ford expects a formal apology from the American diplomat, though no timeline for such a response has been established.
Broader Implications for Canada-U.S. Relations
This diplomatic spat comes at a sensitive time in Canada-U.S. relations, with multiple cross-border issues requiring cooperative engagement between the two nations. Ford's strong reaction underscores the importance both sides place on maintaining respectful diplomatic discourse, even during periods of political disagreement.
The incident has sparked discussion among political analysts about the boundaries of diplomatic language and whether Cohen's attempt at folksy humor missed its mark during a moment of international crisis.
