Trump reiterates 51st state threat as Carney prepares for critical White House meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again doubled down on his threats to make Canada the 51st state of the United States, claiming that it would be a beautiful country and a great addition to the union. During an interview on NBC’s Meet The Press, Trump asserted that the U.S. subsidizes Canada to the tune of $200 billion a year, despite this being a false claim about the trade deficit between the two countries.

When asked if he would consider using military force to annex Canada, Trump stated that he does not believe it will come to that point, but alluded to the possibility of something similar happening with Greenland. These renewed threats from the U.S. president come as Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada prepares for a crucial meeting at the White House to discuss tariffs and the broader Canada-U.S. relationship.

Carney has long maintained that Canadian sovereignty is not up for discussion and has stated that Canada will never join the U.S. However, he has agreed to meet with Trump in an effort to address trade and security issues. The upcoming meeting has been described as a good start by Everett Eissenstat, a former deputy director of Trump’s National Economic Council, who advised Carney to approach the discussions pragmatically.

There are numerous tariffs on the table that will need to be addressed, including those on Canadian steel and aluminum, energy products, and non-CUSMA compliant goods. Eissenstat suggested that removing these tariffs could be contingent on Canada addressing other concerns raised by Trump, such as defense spending. Additionally, the threat of making Canada the 51st state is seen as highly unlikely to come to fruition.

Innovation Minister Anita Anand expressed enthusiasm about Carney’s meeting with Trump, highlighting the importance of protecting Canada’s economic sovereignty. She emphasized the need for continued dialogue between the two countries on shared issues, noting that the White House meeting is just the beginning of this process.

As Canada navigates its relationship with the United States, Carney will also need to work with a minority government that requires cooperation from other parties. Anand expressed hope for increased collaboration in the House of Commons, pointing to the success of Canada’s COVID-19 response as evidence of the ability for federal parties to work together for the greater good of the country.