President Donald Trump has confirmed that his repeated comments about making Canada the “51st state” are serious, following a warning from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau had told Canadian business leaders that Trump’s desire to absorb Canada is a “real thing,” not just a joke.
In an interview airing before the Super Bowl, Fox News host Bret Baier asked Trump if Trudeau was right. Trump responded affirmatively, stating, “Yes it is,” and went on to explain that Canada would be “much better off” as part of the U.S. He expressed frustration with the $200 billion the U.S. spends on defense in Canada and the trade deficit, describing it as a subsidy to Canada. Trump added, “If they’re the 51st state, I don’t mind doing it.”
Though Trump’s earlier remarks about Canada becoming the U.S.’ 51st state were dismissed as negotiations or jokes, Trudeau recently warned that the Trump administration is seriously eyeing Canada’s vast natural resources and may see absorption as a way to access them more directly.
Trump has previously discussed Canada and even Greenland as potential additions to the U.S., as part of his “America First” foreign policy. This comes amid ongoing tariff threats, including the recent pause of a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, which Trump had been considering. While the tariffs are on hold for now, Trump has indicated they may still be imposed if negotiations don’t yield satisfactory results.
In response, Canada has shown defiance, with some Canadians organizing boycotts of U.S. products and travel. Canadian officials have stressed their resolve to make independent decisions, with Minister Steven MacKinnon saying, “Canada will choose its own destiny.”
