During a recent dinner at Mar-a-Lago, President-elect Donald Trump reportedly suggested to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada should consider becoming the 51st U.S. state if it cannot handle the proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian imports. Trudeau expressed concerns that such tariffs would “kill” Canada’s economy, to which Trump allegedly replied, “So your country can’t survive unless it’s ripping off the U.S. to the tune of $100 billion?”
Trump then proposed that Canada could become the 51st state, with Trudeau serving as its governor, though he acknowledged that “prime minister” was a better title. The remark reportedly led to nervous laughter from Trudeau and others at the table. When someone noted that Canada would be a “very liberal state,” Trump suggested it could be divided into two states—one liberal and one conservative.
This conversation occurred after Trump announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico unless these countries address issues related to illegal immigration and drug smuggling into the United States. Trump reiterated these demands during the dinner, emphasizing the need for changes by January 20, when he is set to be inaugurated.
The meeting has sparked discussions and speculations, with some viewing Trump’s comments as a jest, while others consider them indicative of his administration’s hardline stance on trade and immigration policies. The suggestion of Canada becoming a U.S. state has been a topic of debate in various contexts, including discussions about Alberta’s separatist movements and hypothetical scenarios analyzing political alignments.
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As the inauguration approaches, both U.S. and Canadian officials are closely monitoring the situation, anticipating potential shifts in trade relations and diplomatic dynamics between the neighboring countries.
