Trump Revisits '51st State' Quip, Derides Trudeau as 'Governor of Canada'

New York, Dec 10 (NationPress) US President-elect Donald Trump has incited both laughter and discussion by calling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau the 'Governor' of the 'Great State of Canada' following their recent dinner encounter.

On his social media platform, Truth Social, the 78-year-old stated, 'It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada. I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in-depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all!'

This comment swiftly gained traction online, leading to a flurry of amusement and speculation regarding whether Trump's statement was a pointed jab.

Reports indicate that the remark might stem from Trump's previous suggestion to Trudeau that Canada could contemplate becoming the 51st state of the United States should his proposed 25 percent tariffs severely impact the Canadian economy.

Trump also allegedly cautioned about this scenario if Ottawa did not address matters like illegal immigration and drug trafficking, according to various media outlets.

The comments were made during an unplanned dinner at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Florida resort, where Trudeau aimed to prevent the anticipated tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods. These tariffs were purportedly linked to what Trump characterized as their inability to manage cross-border illegal activities and drug trafficking into the US.

According to Fox News, Trump defended his proposed tariffs as essential for border safety, combating drug trafficking, and diminishing trade deficits. Trudeau, however, countered, warning that such actions could gravely impact Canada's economy.

During the dinner, Trump is said to have joked, 'Maybe Canada should become the 51st state of the US and Trudeau could become its Governor,' eliciting nervous laughter from the Canadian leader.

This gathering allowed Trump to emphasize his vision for US-Canada relations prior to his inauguration on January 20.

Trump has maintained that the US provides excessive financial support to Canada and Mexico. 'We subsidize Canada to the tune of over $100 billion a year, we subsidize Mexico to the tune of almost $300 billion. Why are we subsidizing these countries? If we're going to subsidize them, let them become (new) states,' he stated in a recent television interview.

In response to Trump's remarks and threats, Trudeau asserted that his government is ready to defend Canadian interests. He declared that any US tariffs would trigger countermeasures, stressing that such actions would ultimately disadvantage American consumers by raising prices.

The diplomatic dinner at Mar-a-Lago foreshadowed what could be contentious negotiations between the two countries once Trump officially takes office.