The US and Canada would make “a great nation” together, the president-elect has said
US President-elect Donald Trump has suggested that Canada should formally become the 51st American state, after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepped down from party leadership.
Trudeau resigned on Monday citing “internal battles” in the Liberal Party. He will remain a caretaker prime minister until the party elects a new leader, heading into a new parliamentary election due before the end of October.
“Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Monday afternoon. “The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned.”
If Canada “merged” with the US, there would be no tariffs, Canadians would pay lower taxes, and both would be “totally secure” from “the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them,” Trump added. “Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!”
Trudeau’s resignation appears to have been driven, at least in part, by Trump’s threat of a 25% tariff on goods crossing from both Canada and Mexico. The upcoming president accused both neighbors of allowing illegal immigrants, “crime and drugs” to enter the US, while running up unfair trade surpluses with Washington through abusing free-trade treaties. The tariff threat triggered the resignation of Trudeau’s deputy, Chrystia Freeland, opening a rift among the Liberals.
The Canadian leader tried discussing the issue with Trump directly, flying to the president-elect’s Florida residence in early December. During a dinner at Mar-a-Lago, however, Trump jokingly called Trudeau “governor” and joked that Canada ought to become the 51st US state.
Trump has kept up the banter ever since, speculating that Canada could even be divided into two states, one conservative and one liberal. He has also spoken of acquiring Greenland, the Arctic island off the northeastern coast of Canada that’s an autonomous territory of Denmark.
Canada was formed out of the remaining British possessions in North America after the original 13 colonies won their independence in the 18th century. While much of official Ottawa has been dismissive of Trump’s unification talk, investor and TV personality Kevin O’Leary has claimed that about half the country would go along with it.
Trump’s post about Canada came shortly after the US Congress voted to certify the results of the 2024 presidential election, ensuring that he will be sworn in as the 47th president in two weeks.
