'Low IQ decision from our low IQ president': Isaiah Martin shreds Trump's new tariffs on Canada

President Donald Trump's decision to slap tariffs on Canada under Section 338 of the Tariff Act, 1930, has invited near-unanimous censure, with critics arguing the move is likely to backfire on everyday Americans. Isaiah Martin, a prominent Democratic activist, did not hold back, going in guns blazing on X: "Trump putting more tariffs on Canada is yet another low IQ decision from our low IQ president. All that's going to do is RAISE OUR PRICES here. How foolish can you be?"

Martin, a Houston resident who is now running for Congress, continued in his fiery style, adding: "You see smoke from Canada (not their fault) and think, wow, let's go raise AMERICA'S PRICES. The orange buffoon should be helping our neighbors in Canada instead of playing these dumb games!! I guess that would make too much sense!" The White House insisted the tariffs were imposed in retaliation for Canada's unfair treatment of American automobile, alcohol, and dairy industries.

Trump previously threatened to impose tariffs on Ottawa over its alleged mismanagement of wildfires, whose smoke drifting south has triggered hazardous air pollution. The 80-year-old issued a sharp warning to his counterpart, Mark Carney, on Friday: "We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous and totally unacceptable!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

His rationale was the "incalculable" cost of the pollution. "Canada has refused to engage in basic Forest Management and Debris Removal, knowing that such refusal will lead to exactly this result. This is Willful Negligence, and becoming a yearly occurrence, costing the United States Billions of Dollars, which cost of this pollution must of necessity be added to the TARIFFS Canada is currently paying," Trump said.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney slammed the decision, calling it another violation of CUSMA, the trilateral trade pact between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. "These include tariffs on the Canadian auto sector, in violation of CUSMA. Canada, as is its right, has merely matched those measures. More broadly, in response to these measures and threats to Canadian sovereignty, provinces, territories, and Canadians from coast to coast have stood together, taking the necessary actions," he said in a statement.

The new tariffs would take effect after 30 days and were imposed in response to Canada's retaliatory measures against Washington for imposing tariffs in 2025. The tariffs cover a vast range of products, including dairy products, alcohol and alcohol-related products, certain food products, construction materials, clothing, furniture, and technology. Certain products are exempt from the new tariffs, including energy, potash products subject to tariffs under Section 232, and certain other goods such as fish or critical minerals.