When Republican presidents used to love us

Former U.S. president Ronald Reagan warned in 1988 in one of his famous weekly radio addresses: 'We should beware of the demagogs who are ready to declare a trade war against our friends—weakening our economy, our national security, and the entire free world—all while cynically waving the American flag.'

Then prime minister Brian Mulroney, second left, Mila Mulroney, then-U.S. president Ronald Reagan, and Nancy Reagan, singing When Irish Eyes Are Smiling at the Shamrock Summit in Quebec City, held March 17-18, 1985.Photograph courtesy of the White House

Opinion

BY ARTHUR MILNES

May 5, 2025

When Prime Minister Mark Carney sits down for his eagerly-anticipated private talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on May 6, Ronald Reagan will be looking down upon both leaders. And I mean that literally.

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