Trump demands Canada pay wildfire smoke damages

President Donald Trump argued that Canada should pay damages or face additional tariffs for wildfire smoke that has drifted into the United States, claiming he pressured Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the World Cup final to stop the fires. United States — Michigan members of Congress sent a letter expressing frustration with Canada over the smoke. The article, an opinion piece by Felix Horne of Climate Rights International, criticizes the U.S. administration for dismantling climate policies while demanding compensation from Canada. It notes that Canada's 2023 wildfire season was the worst on record, with over 45 million acres burned, and that by July 17 of this year another 5.9 million acres were lost. The piece argues that forest management alone cannot address the hotter, drier conditions driven by climate change, and that U.S. policies accelerating fossil fuel development will worsen future wildfire seasons. It highlights the public health threat from PM2.5 particles in the smoke, which affected over 120 million Americans in 2023.