After the tariffs he placed on Canada and Mexico, Donald Trump’s trade policies had already caused tensions in his relationship with Canada during the beginning of his presidency. Trump declared the tariffs on the grounds that they were required to safeguard American industries and raise America’s power. Many Canadian officials were incensed by the action, which they perceived as an unfair assault on their economy, which is largely dependent on trade with the United States.
Trump gained attention for his frequent claims that Canada would benefit more from joining the United States as tensions over tariffs continued. In one of his more controversial statements, Trump highlighted the idea of Canada becoming the “51st state.” Although this was assumed to be an offhand comment, as trade tensions started to arise, many Canadian politicians began to take him more seriously.
On Thursday, Trump once more defied the economic relationship between the two countries. In a press conference, he stated, “We don’t need their cars, energy, or lumber,” reasserting the idea that the U.S. does not have to subsidize Canadian industries. He also assaulted the U.S.-Canada border, stating it was an “artificial line” that “makes no sense.”
While Trump’s appointment for U.S. ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, has minimized the remarks, Canadian lawmakers were not so quick to laugh it off. Previous Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned that Trump’s words could be all part of a strategy to economically undermine Canada, so that it would be simple to annex the country. Trudeau’s successor, Mark Carney, strongly despised the idea, sharing that “Canada will never, ever be part of America.” Additionally, Ontario Premier Doug Ford also slandered Trump’s comments, saying, “Canada is not for sale and will never be the 51st state.”
While Trump’s words seem like a harmless threat, the reality is that to make Canada the 51st state would require congressional action and a Canadian citizens’ permission, something which does not seem remotely possible. In addition, experts believe more than likely that if Canada somehow became part of the United States, its citizens would vote Democrat, making it even more polarizing. In spite of the ambiguity of Trump’s words, it’s clear that the tensions and trade wars during his early days in the White House have been largely responsible for the ongoing discourse about Canada’s potential role in the U.S.
