President Trump asked Friday whether Bloomberg would apologize after off-the-record remarks he made about Canada amid tense trade negotiations were published by another news outlet.
“Still can’t believe that Bloomberg violated a firm OFF THE RECORD statement. Will they put out an apology?” Trump wrote on Twitter.
Still can’t believe that Bloomberg violated a firm OFF THE RECORD statement. Will they put out an apology?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2018
Trump blasted Bloomberg earlier Friday for “blatantly” ignoring their “powerful understanding” regarding how that part of their conversation was off the record. But the president added that at least Canada knew where he stood. He didn’t, however, initially blame the media organization for the leak.
The furor follows a Toronto Star report Friday that Trump told Bloomberg on Thursday that he wasn’t open to making any trade concessions with Canada, but was hamstrung from saying so publicly because “it’s going to be so insulting they’re not going to be able to make a deal.”
“Off the record, Canada’s working their ass off. And every time we have a problem with a point, I just put up a picture of a Chevrolet Impala,” Trump reportedly said, referring to a General Motors model manufactured in Canada.
Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait, one of three journalists to interview Trump Thursday, declined to comment to the Star. The Star reporter who wrote the story would also not reveal the source of his information when pressed for details.
The Trump administration and Canada on Friday failed to come to an agreement over the president’s bilateral trade deal with Mexico. The White House submitted the arrangement sans Canada to Congress, but plans to continue talks with the country.
