Web Desk
Upcoming President Donald Trump recently stated that “Canada is already or would soon become ‘the 51st state’ of America” once he resumes office later this month. Notwithstanding, there has been no indication that Canada has any desire to join the United States. On Tuesday night, Trump posted two corresponding images of union U.S. along his Precision gregarious bill.
The first image depicted the U.S. and Canada but excluded Mexico with the mark “United States.” The second correspondence similarly excluded Mexico, instead featuring America and Canada adorned in the colors of the U.S. pin. Trump captioned the post with the phrase “Oh Canada!”
In another post on Monday, Trump claimed that “many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State” while alleging that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to resign because he “knew” Canada could not “stay afloat” without financial support from the United States.
Trump added, “If Canada combined with the U.S., there would be no tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be extremely SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese ships that are constantly surrounding them. Collectively, what a good state it would be.”
Trump has also hinted at broader ambitions, such as annexing Nunavut and taking back control of the Panama Canal. He further suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico to “The Gulf of America.” During a Tuesday press conference, the president-elect said he wouldn’t rule out military action to annex Greenland or the Panama Canal but made no similar statement about Canada.
Answers to Trump’s Statements
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly responded to Trump’s comments in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “President-elect Trump’s comments show a complete lack of understanding of what makes Canada a strong country. Our economy is sound. Our people are strong. We will never bow down in the face of threats.”
What Lies Ahead
While Trump’s remarks have sparked discussions, the odds of Canada becoming part of America remain extremely slim. Notwithstanding, his increasingly aggressive rhetoric could strain U.S.-Canada relations and might influence trade policies, notably his plans for broad comprehensive tariffs on foreign goods.
