It's absolutely fascinating to me how people interpret things online. Like, I would love to understand how you read any opinion or framing into that sentence. And I don't mean that as a dig. I try very hard to communicate clearly and I'm totally lost on this one.

I guess I will provide more context just in case you aren't the only one who took that meaning. The quote text in your reply was meant as a humorous observation.

Doug Ford is noted for his belief that the government should be run more like a private business. Here is an article from 2018, when he was running for his current position. It's hard to find contemporary sources right now because of all the current news stories but I was voting age and living in Toronto when the Fords (all three!) were in office. Whether true or not I remember when he was running for office that it was suggested he spent more time in Chicago than Toronto and was too pro-american to do the job. I have a vague memory of there being criticism of his wife and daughters posting photos on Instagram from Chicago while he was running or something like that but again, I don't have anything to back that up.

This 2014 article written during his run for mayor is probably the best I'm going to get with the effort in willing to put in, describing Ford's aspirations prior to entering politics:

Mr. Ford split his time between Toronto and Chicago, typically flying to the U.S. on Tuesday morning and returning on Friday. Sources close to the family say it was always Mr. Ford's hope that he would take over Chicago full-time, add offices in Florida and perhaps California, while maintaining a financial interest in the Toronto operation.

This one from 2010 at least establishes his connection to the US although it doesn't provide analysis on how it was viewed by voters outside of his "home" ward:

Ford, 45, is a married father of four, cunning businessman and an all-round nice guy. As president, he has expanded his family business, Deco Labels and Tags, to a multinational company with estimated annual sales that top $100 million.

A fiscal conservative, Ford also enjoys the success he has created. He and his wife are renovating their million-dollar Etobicoke home. They have a cottage, a place in Chicago and another in Florida. Ford drives a Lincoln SUV.

So, with that context I made what was intended as a silly humourous observation about how the man who was once seen as too positive about the US and US business is now very loudly patriotic. P.S. folks don't need to explain why this isn't actually a shift in his values, i.e. he is pro free trade and anti regulation I get that my joke doesn't stand up to scrutiny. You can just tell me it's a bad joke and save the keystrokes lol 😂

Ford is not picking anything, he has no power in any of this. Rosie O'Donnell has more influence.

Another fascinating cultural and linguistic difference. I have not understood that the phrase "picking fights" required the fights to be effective or influential. Hell, I'd even use the term for people lashing out without direction when they are upset about something. I'm not the first one to apply that phrase to his behaviour either. He's not exactly known for being a chill dude.

Ford has no ability to place tariffs. His priorities are ripping out bike lanes and being Mayor of Toronto.

I'm a bike riding pinko from Etobicoke. He will always be a timbit.