Trump Proposes 'Economic Force' to Make Canada the 51st State; Trudeau Responds
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Florida, Jan 8 (NationPress) US President-elect Donald Trump has introduced the concept of utilizing economic force to integrate Canada with the United States, forming what he commonly refers to as the 51st state.
He mentioned factors such as military support from the US and trade deficits between the two countries to back his proposal.
During a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Tuesday, Trump remarked, “If you eliminate that artificially drawn line, and examine what it entails, it would significantly enhance national security.”
“Canada and the United States would truly represent something remarkable. We have been excellent neighbors, but this arrangement can't persist indefinitely,” he continued.
Highlighting the financial obligation on the US, Trump stated, “Remember, we essentially safeguard Canada. However, the issue with Canada is significant; I have many friends there, and I admire the Canadian people. They are fantastic, but we are spending hundreds of billions each year to protect them. We incur significant losses due to trade deficits.”
Trump reaffirmed his intention to implement “considerable” tariffs on products from both Canada and Mexico.
“Canada receives subsidies amounting to around $200 billion annually, among other benefits. They lack a substantial military presence and depend on our military support. That's acceptable, but they have to contribute financially,” he remarked.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared a modified image depicting Canada as part of the US, captioned, “Oh Canada.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dismissed Trump’s assertion, responding decisively, “There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would join the United States. Workers and communities in both nations benefit from being each other's largest trading and security partners.”
Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly also criticized Trump’s statements, claiming he shows a “lack of understanding” regarding Canada. She asserted that Canada would “never concede” to such threats.
Since winning the presidential election in November, Trump has consistently suggested a US-Canada “merger”. He has mockingly referred to Trudeau as the “Governor” of the “Great State of Canada.”
Previously, Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian products unless Canada took significant measures to enhance border security and reduce the influx of drugs and illegal immigrants into the US.
