Mike Rogers calls for an end to the Canada tariff war; El-Sayed calls it a flip-flop
Rogers says prices are too high and the tariff fight with Canada should end. El-Sayed says Rogers backed the tariffs from the beginning. Trump reads the ad as a call for Canada to make a deal.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Trump escalated his trade dispute with Canada after negotiations broke down in August 2026. According to The Canadian Press, the United States placed 50 percent tariffs on a range of Canadian goods, Canada answered with its own duties, and a U.S. import ban on some Canadian liquor, whey products and motorcycles took effect the week before Rogers released his ad.
Michigan's economy is closely tied to Canada, particularly through the auto industry. Rogers and El-Sayed are running for the Senate seat held by retiring Democrat Gary Peters. The Canadian Press reported that Rogers had earlier said tariffs were necessary but not a one-size-fits-all solution, and El-Sayed's campaign points to earlier Rogers posts praising the tariffs.
At their October 8 debate in Grand Rapids, Rogers said he had called the White House and the commerce secretary that week to push for a deal, and said U.S. tariffs on Canada that are too high should be eliminated. El-Sayed said the tariffs were costing Michigan residents money, while saying he supports tariffs used as part of an industrial policy.
People in this case
Mike RogersDirectly involved
Abdul El-SayedDirectly involved
Donald TrumpDirectly involved
Timeline
4 timeline entries on this page. Dates: October 7, 2026 to October 8, 2026
October 2026
Rogers releases ad calling for an end to the tariff war with Canada
Claim
Rogers's campaign posts a 30-second ad in which he says Canada is not the enemy and the tariff war should end now.
[01]Mike Rogers
Rogers's campaign account posted this message with a 30-second ad on October 7, 2026. In the ad, filmed in a bar, Rogers holds a Labatt beer, says people in Michigan know Canada is not the enemy, and calls for an end to the tariff war.
Mike Rogers posts ad calling for an end to the tariff war with Canada · Mike RogersPost text and attached 30-second campaign ad[02]Michigan Republican Mike Rogers breaks with Trump over Canada tariffs
Canadian Press report on Rogers's October 7 ad. It quotes the ad, El-Sayed's response and Trump's comments at the White House later that day, and describes the escalation of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods since August.
El-Sayed calls Rogers's tariff ad a flip-flop
Reaction
El-Sayed's campaign says Rogers backed the tariff war from the beginning and is changing course because his poll numbers are falling.
[03]Abdul El-Sayed
Press release issued by El-Sayed's Senate campaign on the day Rogers released his ad. It quotes El-Sayed and lists earlier Rogers remarks that the campaign says show his support for the tariffs.
Abdul El-Sayed campaign statement on Rogers's Canada tariff ad · Abdul El-SayedFull press releaseTrump says he took the ad to mean Canada should make a deal
Reaction
Asked about the ad at the White House, Trump says he viewed Rogers as saying Canada should make a deal and repeats that Canada has been taking advantage of the United States.
[02]Michigan Republican Mike Rogers breaks with Trump over Canada tariffs
Canadian Press report on Rogers's October 7 ad. It quotes the ad, El-Sayed's response and Trump's comments at the White House later that day, and describes the escalation of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods since August.
[04]Newsweek
Newsweek report on Rogers's ad. It quotes Trump's Oval Office remarks, El-Sayed's statement and a September Rogers campaign statement on tariffs, and says a White House official referred questions to the president's remarks. Newsweek says an AI assistant was used to produce the story.
Mike Rogers Turns on Trump's Tariffs: What Michigan Republican Said Before · NewsweekFull articleRogers says at the debate that he pressed the White House for a deal
Asked in Grand Rapids how his ad fits his past support for the tariffs, Rogers says he called the White House and spoke to the commerce secretary that week about getting a deal done, and says U.S. tariffs on Canada that are too high should be eliminated.
[05]Michigan Republican faces pressure during heated debate on Trump's Canada tariffs
Canadian Press report on the October 8 Michigan Senate debate in Grand Rapids, where Rogers was asked about his ad and El-Sayed was asked about his own past support for targeted tariffs.
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
Prices are too high, and the United States should end its tariff war with Canada now.
What is disputed
Rogers made the call in a campaign ad. Trump said he took the ad to mean that Canada should make a deal. At the October 8 debate, Rogers said he had urged the White House to reach a deal and that U.S. tariffs on Canada that are too high should be eliminated.
Sources (2)
- Mike Rogers posts ad calling for an end to the tariff war with Canada · Mike RogersPost text and attached 30-second campaign ad
Disputed claim
Rogers supported Trump's tariff war with Canada from the beginning and is changing his position now because his poll numbers are falling.
What is disputed
El-Sayed's campaign cites earlier Rogers posts praising the tariffs. The Canadian Press reported that Rogers had previously said tariffs were necessary but not a one-size-fits-all solution. In the statements we reviewed, Rogers did not respond to the claim about his poll numbers; at the October 8 debate he said he had pressed the White House for a deal with Canada.
Sources (3)
- Abdul El-Sayed campaign statement on Rogers's Canada tariff ad · Abdul El-SayedFull press release
- Mike Rogers Turns on Trump's Tariffs: What Michigan Republican Said Before · NewsweekFull article
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
4 responses. Newest first.
Abdul El-SayedDemocratic nominee for U.S. Senate in MichiganDirectly involvedBefore this statement
At the debate, El-Sayed was asked about a statement on his campaign website supporting targeted tariffs. He said the tariffs on Canada are costing Michigan residents thousands of dollars and that he backs tariffs as part of an industrial policy, adding: "We use tariffs to protect our own market".
"This is, like everything, ham-fisted, chaotic, self-serving, that Donald Trump does."
CondemnedCase context: Mike Rogers calls for an end to the Canada tariff war; El-Sayed calls it a flip-flop
Full statement and sources
At the October 8 debate, El-Sayed says the tariffs on Canada are costing Michigan residents money and calls them chaotic and self-serving, while backing tariffs used as part of an industrial policy.
After the statement
Earlier in the debate, Rogers said he had called the White House and the commerce secretary that week about reaching a deal with Canada.
Why this label?
The reference point is the U.S. tariff war with Canada. El-Sayed calls it "ham-fisted, chaotic, self-serving" and says it is costing Michigan residents money, so we labeled it Condemned. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional; it loses because the tariffs he supports are ones tied to an industrial policy, not the tariffs on Canada.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Mike RogersRepublican nominee for U.S. Senate in MichiganDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Rogers posted the message with a 30-second campaign ad filmed in a bar, in which he holds a Labatt beer and says people in Michigan know Canada is not the enemy.
"Prices are too high and Canada is not our enemy. We need to end the tariff war — now."
CondemnedResponding to: Prices are too high, and the United States should end its tariff war with Canada now.
Full statement and sources
Rogers says prices are too high and calls for an immediate end to the tariff war with Canada.
After the statement
The post goes on to say that in the Senate he would bring both parties together to lower costs.
Mike Rogers posts ad calling for an end to the tariff war with Canada · Mike RogersPost text and attached 30-second campaign adWhy this label?
The reference point is the U.S. tariff war with Canada. Rogers says it should end now and ties it to high prices, so we labeled it Condemned. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional; it loses because the post offers no defense of the tariffs.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Donald TrumpPresident of the United StatesDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Reporters in the Oval Office asked Trump about Rogers's ad calling for an end to the tariff war. Trump said, "I viewed him as saying that he thinks Canada should make a deal".
"Canada has been ripping off our country for many, many years."
Defended or excusedResponding to: Prices are too high, and the United States should end its tariff war with Canada now.
Full statement and sources
Asked about Rogers's ad, Trump says he took it to mean that Canada should make a deal and repeats that Canada has been taking advantage of the United States for years.
After the statement
The Canadian Press reported that Trump said Canada wants to make a deal but his administration is not satisfied. A White House official referred Newsweek to the president's remarks.
Mike Rogers Turns on Trump's Tariffs: What Michigan Republican Said Before · NewsweekFull articleWhy this label?
The reference point is the U.S. tariff war with Canada. Trump recasts Rogers's call as a demand on Canada and says Canada has been "ripping off our country", so we labeled it Defended or excused, meaning he stands by the trade fight. The closest competing label is Challenged the characterization, because he reinterprets the ad; it loses because he goes on to justify the dispute itself.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
- Abdul El-SayedDemocratic nominee for U.S. Senate in MichiganDirectly involved
Before this statement
El-Sayed's campaign issued the statement on the day Rogers released his ad. It opens with El-Sayed joking that Rogers must have had one too many Labatts.
"You cheerled this tariff war from the beginning and you're flip-flopping now because your poll numbers are in free fall. Donald is the reason we're in a trade war. And he's the reason you're running. Not a serious person."
CondemnedResponding to: Rogers supported Trump's tariff war with Canada from the beginning and is changing his position now because his poll numbers are falling.
Full statement and sources
El-Sayed says Rogers backed the tariff war from the start and is reversing course because his poll numbers are falling, and blames Trump for the trade war.
After the statement
The release lists earlier Rogers posts praising the tariffs and cites a New York Times and Siena poll that it says found nearly 70 percent of Michigan voters disapprove of the trade war with Canada.
Abdul El-Sayed campaign statement on Rogers's Canada tariff ad · Abdul El-SayedFull press releaseWhy this label?
The reference point is the U.S. tariff war with Canada. El-Sayed blames Trump for the trade war and faults Rogers for having "cheerled" it, so we labeled it Condemned. The closest competing label is Challenged the characterization, because he questions whether Rogers's shift is genuine; it loses because he also criticizes the tariff war itself.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(5)
Original post
Mike Rogers posts ad calling for an end to the tariff war with Canada
About this source
Rogers's campaign account posted this message with a 30-second ad on October 7, 2026. In the ad, filmed in a bar, Rogers holds a Labatt beer, says people in Michigan know Canada is not the enemy, and calls for an end to the tariff war.
- Author
- Mike Rogers (@MikeRogersForMI)
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Michigan Republican faces pressure during heated debate on Trump's Canada tariffs
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Canadian Press report on the October 8 Michigan Senate debate in Grand Rapids, where Rogers was asked about his ad and El-Sayed was asked about his own past support for targeted tariffs.
- Author
- Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Mike Rogers Turns on Trump's Tariffs: What Michigan Republican Said Before
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Newsweek report on Rogers's ad. It quotes Trump's Oval Office remarks, El-Sayed's statement and a September Rogers campaign statement on tariffs, and says a White House official referred questions to the president's remarks. Newsweek says an AI assistant was used to produce the story.
- Author
- Steven Frank
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Abdul El-Sayed campaign statement on Rogers's Canada tariff ad
Relevant passage: Full press release
About this source
Press release issued by El-Sayed's Senate campaign on the day Rogers released his ad. It quotes El-Sayed and lists earlier Rogers remarks that the campaign says show his support for the tariffs.
- Author
- Abdul for U.S. Senate
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Michigan Republican Mike Rogers breaks with Trump over Canada tariffs
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Canadian Press report on Rogers's October 7 ad. It quotes the ad, El-Sayed's response and Trump's comments at the White House later that day, and describes the escalation of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods since August.
- Author
- The Canadian Press
- Published
- Accessed
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- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Mike Rogers calls for an end to the Canada tariff war; El-Sayed calls it a flip-flop
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/mike-rogers-canada-tariff-war-el-sayed-flip-flop
The Dispute Index. "Mike Rogers calls for an end to the Canada tariff war; El-Sayed calls it a flip-flop". First published: 2026-10-17. Last updated: 2026-10-17. https://disputeindex.com/cases/mike-rogers-canada-tariff-war-el-sayed-flip-flop