US President-elect Donald Trump reignited controversy on Wednesday by suggesting that Canada should join the United States as its 51st state. The comment, made on Truth Social, comes during a political crisis in Ottawa following the surprise resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.
“Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st state,” Trump posted. “They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it’s a great idea. 51st State!!!”
The remark, reportedly intended as a joke, has drawn mixed reactions, with some Canadians finding it in poor taste. Others see it as a veiled warning, particularly as Trump has previously threatened tariffs on Canadian goods over concerns about fentanyl trafficking.
A recent poll by market researcher Leger found that while the majority of Canadians oppose the idea, 13 percent expressed support for merging with their southern neighbour.
This isn’t the first time Trump has floated the idea. During a November dinner at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump reportedly made the same suggestion to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, eliciting laughter from the attendees. However, his recent remarks have stirred unease.
According to Fox News, Trump believes merging the two nations could address issues such as fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration. He has even referred to Trudeau in social media posts as the governor of Canada, a jab that has increasingly worried Canadians.
The timing of Trump’s comments coincides with political instability in Ottawa. Chrystia Freeland’s resignation this week exposed divisions within Prime Minister Trudeau’s cabinet over how to handle Trump’s tariff threats and a looming trade war.
Freeland, a key architect of Canada’s trade policies, stated in her resignation letter that disagreements with Trudeau on the government’s response to US pressures had reached a breaking point.
Her departure has emboldened Trudeau’s critics and cast doubt on the stability of his leadership. The stakes are high, with more than 75 percent of Canada’s exports going to the United States and nearly two million Canadian jobs dependent on trade.
While Trump’s suggestion may have been intended as humour, many Canadians view it as humiliating. “It’s not funny,” one political analyst commented. “The implication that Canada could be absorbed into the US is both unrealistic and deeply patronizing.”
The situation shows the growing tension between the two neighbours as Canada grapples with internal political challenges and an uncertain trade relationship with the United States under Trump’s incoming administration.
