Trump wants Canada demoted to 51st State of US

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is taking aim at Canada once more, saying it would be “a great idea” to make it America’s “51st state.”

“No one can answer why we subsidize Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year? Makes no sense!” Trump said in a post early Wednesday morning on Truth Social.

“Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it is a great idea. 51st State!!!”

Insult to injury

Trump’s latest social media comments come in the midst of a challenging month for Canada-U.S. relations.

In late November, the president-elect announced plans for sweeping, 25-per-cent tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China a move that shocked Canadian politicians and businesses alike.

“It’s like a family member stabbing you, right in the heart," said Ontario Premier Doug Ford shortly after news of the tariff threats first emerged.

By the end of the month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had made a surprise trip to Mar-a-lago, Trump’s home and resort in West Palm Beach, Fla., to meet with the once-and-future U.S. president.

News emerged from the meeting that tariffs didn’t appear avoidable in the immediate future, but Trudeau appeared optimistic, posting to social media that he “look(ed) forward to the work we can do together, again.”

But within days, reports surfaced that Trump was talking about a very different kind of collaboration.

Rumours soon circulated that during the dinner, Trump joked that, if the proposed tariffs meant Canada’s economy couldn’t survive, then maybe the country should become America’s 51st state.

The rumoured jab was followed by a bewildering Truth Social post on Dec. 3 captioned “Oh Canada!” and depicting Trump next to a Canadian flag, overlooking a rocky vista that appeared to feature the Matterhorn, a mountain on the border between Switzerland and Italy.

Source: cp24.com

I like Premier Ford, he wants to fight fire with fire and threaten to cut off the light and power for about 1.5 million Americans or taxing energy resources sold to US.

Canada is the largest source of U.S. energy imports and the second-largest destination for U.S. energy exports behind only Mexico. Energy is an important component of trade between Canada and the United States.

In 2019, based on the latest annual Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) data from the U.S. Census Bureau, energy accounted for US $85 billion, or 27%, of the value of all U.S. imports from Canada. Crude oil and petroleum products accounted for 91% of the value of U.S. energy imports from Canada and 89% of the value of U.S. energy exports to Canada.

In reply to Slipfeeler

Is it true Canada- a great country with a very high standard of living and superior housing than many communities in the US, receive subsidies from the US?

Can trade between the two continue unfettered- without either country subsidizing the other.

Free Trade is never free and the playing field is never level, but if ever there was a philosophical argument to be made in favor of free trade, Canada and the USA will be the two countries where all things are closest to equal as you can get, which will indeed test the spirit of free-trade, no subsidies, the better product prevails, most efficient manufacturer rewarded, best in class get the nod in the market place, etc etc.