Commonwealth_ Prime Minister Justin Trudeau firmly rejected the idea of Canada becoming part of the United States, stating, “There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States.” He responded to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump‘s declaration that he was open to using “economic force” to acquire Canada.
Trump made the comments during a press event at Mar-a-Lago, where he discussed potential strategies for expanding U.S. influence. While refusing to rule out the use of military force to control the Panama Canal or Greenland, Trump clarified that he would rely on “economic force” for Canada.
“No, economic force,” Trump said when asked about military intervention regarding Canada. “Because Canada and the United States, that would really be something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like. It would also be much better for national security … We basically protect Canada.”
Social Media Maps Stir Controversy
Later that evening, Trump posted two provocative maps on his Truth Social platform. One depicted the American flag covering both Canada and the U.S., while the other labeled the combined territories as the “United States.” His comments and posts marked an escalation in rhetoric that began in early December when he jokingly suggested a merger to a visiting Canadian delegation, including Trudeau, at Mar-a-Lago. Canadian officials initially dismissed Trump’s remarks as teasing, but recent statements suggest he is considering the idea more seriously.
Trump Cites Economic Subsidies
At the press conference, Trump claimed that the U.S. is losing over $200 billion annually in protecting Canada. Referring to Trudeau as “Governor Trudeau,” he said, “What would happen if we didn’t subsidize you?” Trump claimed Trudeau responded that Canada would “dissolve,” although this assertion was unverified.
Previously, Trump accused Canada of benefiting from a $100 billion U.S. subsidy, possibly referencing the trade deficit between the two countries. However, this figure is inconsistent with official trade data, which shows a 2023 U.S.-Canada trade deficit of $41 billion. On Tuesday, Trump increased the purported subsidy to $200 billion without explanation.
Canada Pushes Back
Trudeau and Canadian officials responded swiftly. Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s sovereignty on social media, saying, “Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other’s biggest trading and security partners.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly criticized Trump’s comments as showing “a complete lack of understanding of what makes Canada a strong country.” Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Joly added, “Our economy is strong. Our people are strong. We will never back down in the face of threats.”
Joly, who is considered a potential successor to Trudeau, issued this statement shortly after Trudeau announced he would step down as Liberal Party leader and eventually resign as prime minister.
Pierre Poilievre, the current head of Canada’s Conservative Party, also dismissed such a merger saying “Canada will never be the 51st state. Period. We are a great and independent country,” he posted in a statement on X.
U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of the trade relationship between the two countries, noting it supports millions of jobs. In 2023, the U.S. exported C$461.5 billion in goods to Canada and imported C$540.3 billion, making it the world’s largest bilateral trading relationship.
In contrast to Biden’s praise, Trump took a combative tone in his Truth Social posts, describing Canada as the U.S.’s “51st state.” He argued the U.S. “can no longer suffer the massive trade deficits and subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat,” adding, “Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned.” Trump also suggested that a merger between the U.S. and Canada would eliminate tariffs and reduce taxes, claiming it would create a “great nation.”
