Why MAGA’s new talking point will backfire badly: analysis

With smoke from Canadian wildfires leading to dangerous air quality in U.S. cities last week — from New York and Philadelphia to Chicago — MAGA Republicans pushed a new talking point: blaming Canada. But MS NOW columnist Jarvis DeBerry believes that the talking point could backfire badly.

The air quality in Philly was so problematic during the worst of the wildfires that trash collection was suspended for a few days. And Philadelphians, in news reports, were seen wearing protective masks on their way to work.

Trump, in a Friday, July 17 post on his Truth Social platform, wrote, "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! I will call the Prime Minister during the day to find out what they are going to do about it. The cost is incalculable! 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP."

Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), on X, posted, "I'll be introducing a bill next week to sanction Canada and the responsible Canadian government officials for this atrocity."

But DeBerry, in MS NOW, argues that the MAGA attacks on Canada are both cynical and misguided.

DeBerry, in response to Moreno's tweet, argues, "Slow down, senator. Atrocity? Let’s reserve that term for large-scale acts of wickedness, not disputes among neighbors regarding accusations of poor forest management."

In light of the Trump administration's environmental policies, DeBerry writes, MAGA attacks on Canada are "hypocritical."

"Now, all of a sudden, when smoke is wafting in from Canada, Trump says the pollution is costing the U.S. billions of dollars," DeBerry argues. "It is inconceivable that if the situation were reversed, and U.S.-created smoke was blanketing southern parts of Canada, Trump would consider the U.S. culpable. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, on Saturday, (July 18), pointed out that the U.S. indeed has a recent history of wildfires — there are multiple wildfires burning across the country now — and that Canada has responded with compassion, not condemnation. ... Not only is it gauche for the Trump administration to accuse Canada of poor forest management, it's also hypocritical."

DeBerry continues, "Multiple experts have complained that Trump's reckless Department of Government Efficiency initiative (which let go people who could be called into fight fires) and his equally thoughtless attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion (which have halted grants to states with policies deemed 'woke') have made Americans more vulnerable to out-of-control fires and the pollution they cause.

MAGA Republicans, DeBerry says, are "not interested in forest management or even in making it easier for Americans to breathe."

"They're only interested in saying something outrageous to fire up the base," the MS NOW columnist laments. "The burning eyes and the sooty smell are aggravating, but all these Republicans are doing is blowing smoke."