Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has firmly rejected a proposal by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump suggesting that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States, stating that there is “no possibility” of this ever happening.
In a post on social media platform X, Trudeau emphasized that both Canada and the U.S. are each other’s largest trading and security partners, benefiting greatly from their close relationship. “There is no chance, not even until the end of time, that Canada will become a part of the United States,” Trudeau said.
The comments came in response to remarks made by Trump during a speech at his Mar-a-Lago resort, where he was asked if he was considering using military force to annex Canada. Trump responded, stating that he would not use military power but would instead focus on “economic power” to unite the two countries, claiming that doing so would create a “great nation.”
Trump has long criticized Canada’s trade surplus with the U.S. and has previously described the U.S.-Canada border as an “artificial line.” He has also threatened to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada, which sends 75% of its exports to the U.S.
Earlier, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly responded to Trump’s comments, stating that they showed his misunderstanding of why Canada is a strong nation. “We will never bow to threats,” she asserted.
Trudeau’s remarks came just days after he announced he would resign as leader of the Liberal Party in the coming months due to pressure from party lawmakers upset over the party’s declining popularity. The next federal election is expected by October 20, with polls predicting a strong victory for the opposition Conservative Party.
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre also addressed the issue on X, stating, “Canada will never be the 51st state of the U.S. We are a great and independent country.”
