Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau firmly rejected a suggestion by US President-elect Donald Trump that Canada could become the 51st US state through "economic force."
“There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States,” Trudeau declared in a post on X, emphasizing the mutual benefits of the two nations’ trading and security partnership.
At Mar-a-Lago, Trump was asked if he would consider using military force to acquire Canada. He dismissed the idea, stating, “No, economic force. Because Canada and the United States, that would really be something.”
Trump, known for criticizing Canada’s trade surplus with the US, described the border as an “artificially drawn line” and has floated the idea of imposing a 25% tariff on Canadian imports.
Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly condemned Trump’s remarks, calling them evidence of a “complete lack of understanding” of Canada’s strength. “We will never back down in the face of threats,” she asserted.
The controversy comes as Trudeau announced his intention to step down in the coming months amid mounting pressure over his Liberal Party’s declining popularity. With elections due by October 20, polls forecast a decisive victory for the opposition Conservatives.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre also dismissed Trump’s comments, posting on X, “Canada will never be the 51st state. Period. We are a great and independent country.”
