Trump’s Call for Canada to Become the 51st State Sparks Alarm

President Donald Trump reiterated his belief that Canada would be better off as the 51st US state, citing the annual US$200 billion deficit the United States has with Canada. The comments have raised concerns among Canadian leaders, who view them as a genuine threat and an attempt to divert attention from potential tariffs.

In an interview prior to the Super Bowl, Trump questioned why the United States should continue subsidizing Canada, especially given the country’s wealth in natural resources. Trump also criticized Canada’s defense spending, arguing that Canada benefits from US military protection without contributing its fair share to NATO. He raised concerns about Canada’s reliance on US trade, suggesting it calls into question the nation’s long-term viability as an independent entity.

Previously, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had acknowledged Trump's annexation threat as a real concern. "Mr. Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country, and it is a real thing." Trudeau has constantly dismissed the idea of Canada becoming the 51st US state, viewing it as a diversion from Trump’s proposed tariffs on Canadian goods.

"Canadians are incredibly proud of being Canadian. One of the ways we define ourselves most easily is, well, we are not American,” said Trudeau. “President Trump, who is a very skillful negotiator, is getting people to be somewhat distracted by that, by that conversation, to take away from the conversation around 25% tariffs on oil and gas and electricity and steel and aluminum and lumber and concrete.”

Trump's Annexation, Invasion Remarks

Alongside his comments about Canada, former President Donald Trump has also made controversial statements regarding the Panama Canal, Greenland, and even the possibility of invading Mexico. These remarks have sparked strong reactions from leaders of the affected nations.

In Panama, Trump reignited a historical controversy by declaring his intent to “take back” the Panama Canal, citing grievances over its management and alleged unfair treatment of US vessels, blaming China for gaining control of the canal. Trump’s statements were swiftly rejected by the President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, who reaffirmed Panama’s sovereignty. “The canal is and will remain under Panamanian control,” states. 

In Greenland, Trump’s interest is tied to the United States’ Pituffik Space Base, while the territory's wealth of natural resources, including rare earth minerals and oil, adds to its strategic appeal. Positioned as a critical hub for trade, Greenland has become a focal point for global powers like Russia and the United States, both seeking to expand their influence in the Arctic Circle. In response to his recent remarks, Greenland’s Prime Minister, Múte B. Egede, stated: “We are not for sale, and we never will be."

Regarding Mexico, according a Rolling Stone report, Trump proposed a “soft invasion” of Mexico, which includes covert operations such as drone and airstrikes on cartel infrastructure, deployment of US military advisors and trainers, and cyberattacks targeting cartel leaders and networks. The proposal faced widespread criticism from Sheinbaum, who firmly stated that Mexico would not permit such measures.