Trump’s 51st state threats are just performance, says former Republican congressman
Former Republican congressman, Adam Kinzinger, believes that U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to make Canada the 51st American state are merely a performance. Kinzinger, who has been critical of Trump following the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, stated that Trump is more interested in appearing tough and entertaining than actually following through on such a drastic measure.
In an interview with CBC’s The House, Kinzinger reassured Canadians not to be afraid of Trump, emphasizing that the former president tends to back down when confronted. Despite Trump’s repeated threats to annex Canada, Kinzinger believes that Trump is not serious about the idea and is actually scared to take any real action.
Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have responded differently to Trump’s provocations. Defence Minister Bill Blair described Trump’s comments as disrespectful and concerning but not a real threat, while Trudeau characterized the threat as a genuine attempt to access Canada’s critical minerals.
Speculation has arisen that Trump may be using tariffs to pressure Canada into becoming a U.S. state, as he has suggested that Canada would avoid tariffs if it were part of the United States. Kinzinger warned that a trade war would disproportionately harm Canada due to the vast difference in economic size between the two countries.
Despite the potential economic consequences, Trump’s threats have sparked a sense of patriotism among Canadians. Sales of Canadian flags have doubled, and more Quebecers have expressed pride in their Canadian identity. Kinzinger encouraged Canadians to remain proud of their country and to foster Canadian patriotism in the face of Trump’s bluster.
Ultimately, Kinzinger urged Canadians to stand firm against Trump’s rhetoric while maintaining a sense of friendship towards the United States. He assured Canadians that many Americans share their concerns about Trump’s behavior and do not take his threats to annex Canada seriously.
