Trump talked about the ’51st state’ during call with Carney: Radio-Canada sources
During a recent phone call between Donald Trump and Mark Carney, the issue of making Canada the 51st U.S. state was raised, contradicting what the prime minister publicly stated later. Sources familiar with the conversation told Radio-Canada that Trump brought up the idea of Canada joining the U.S. during the call on March 28. Carney, however, expressed his disagreement with the proposal, leading to a tense moment described as “not easy” by one source.
Despite the disagreement on the issue of Canadian sovereignty, both leaders managed to keep the conversation constructive and cordial. Carney later stated that Trump had respected Canada’s sovereignty during the call, contrary to the reports of the 51st state proposal.
The revelation of Trump’s annexation proposal comes at a critical time, just days before the end of an election campaign where the Canada-U.S. relationship has been a dominant issue. Carney has been positioning himself as the best candidate to handle relations with the U.S. and stand up to Trump, emphasizing his experience in managing crises.
Following the call, Trump publicly praised Carney as the prime minister of Canada, signaling a change in tone from previous interactions with Justin Trudeau. Despite the compliments, Trump reiterated his desire to make Canada the 51st state, highlighting the economic benefits he believes it would bring.
In addition to the 51st state issue, Carney and Trump discussed the trade relationship between Canada and the U.S. Carney proposed a comprehensive review of the economic and security agreement between the two countries after the election, which Trump accepted. The discussions also touched on border security issues, including fentanyl and weapons trafficking.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet have criticized Carney’s handling of the call, questioning his ability to manage negotiations with Trump effectively. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh raised concerns about Carney’s transparency in communicating with the public about the discussions with Trump.
Despite the controversy surrounding the call, Carney has agreed to speak with Trump again if his party wins the election, emphasizing the importance of defending Canada’s sovereignty. The outcome of the election will likely have a significant impact on the future of Canada-U.S. relations and the ongoing trade war between the two countries.
