Trump suggests Canada become 51st state after Trudeau said tariff would kill economy: sources
President-elect Trump made headlines last week when he suggested to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that if tariffs for failing to address trade and immigration issues would harm Canada’s economy, perhaps the country should become the 51st state of the United States. The meeting took place at Mar-a-Lago, where the two leaders discussed tariffs, border security, and trade deficits.
According to sources present at the meeting, Trump was direct in expressing his concerns about Canada’s role in allowing drugs and illegal immigrants to flow across the border into the U.S. He also highlighted the trade deficit between the two countries, which he estimated to be over $100 billion. Trump warned Trudeau that if these issues were not addressed, he would impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods upon returning to office.
Trudeau pushed back, stating that such a tariff would devastate the Canadian economy. In response, Trump jokingly suggested that Canada should consider becoming the 51st state. The suggestion elicited nervous laughter from Trudeau and others at the table.
The conversation continued with Trump playfully suggesting that Trudeau could be the governor of the new state, with Canada potentially splitting into two states – one conservative and one liberal. Despite the lighthearted tone of the exchange, Trump made it clear that he expected to see progress on the issues discussed by January 20.
The meeting, which lasted nearly three hours, was described by Canadian guests as friendly and positive. Both the Trump camp and Trudeau’s team have been contacted for comment, but have not responded at this time.
In conclusion, the meeting between President-elect Trump and Prime Minister Trudeau was characterized by frank discussions about trade and immigration issues, with Trump’s suggestion of Canada becoming a state adding a touch of humor to the proceedings. The outcome of this meeting and any potential future developments remain to be seen.
