Donald Trump sends clear message to Canada as he claims it will become the ‘greatest state’ of the US
Since Trump took office for his second term in January, he has remained focused on one goal - acquiring Canada. The President continues promoting the idea of merging with the northern nation and has playfully mocked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by referring to him as the 'Governor of Canada.'
Tensions over trade between both countries are escalating, with the US imposing 25 percent tariffs on products, including steel and aluminum, which has upset Canada considerably.
Trudeau responded by announcing retaliatory counter-tariffs on US goods, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned he might increase electricity costs or completely cut power to 1.5 million US citizens living in Minnesota, New York, and Michigan.
Trump has offered Canada a way to avoid these tariff increases - by becoming America's 'cherished 51st state.' Despite the growing friction, the President shows no intention of abandoning his plan and reaffirmed his desire to acquire both Canada and Greenland during a Thursday (March 13) meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office.
Trump further provoked the country by claiming Canada 'only functions as a state' because America is 'spending $200 billion annually to subsidize it.' Yet under US control, Trump insisted it would become 'one of the finest states anywhere.'
He added that the US and Canada would create 'the most incredible country visually' and that the separation between the two nations was formed when someone drew 'an artificial line straight through.'
As an enticement, the President also mentioned Canada could maintain its national anthem if it joined the US. "It's so perfect as a great and cherished state. Keeping 'O Canada', the national anthem. I love it, I think it's great, keep it. But it'll be for the state, one of our greatest states. Maybe our greatest state," Trump stated.
Regarding the trade dispute, he apologized to Canadians but reinforced his position that the US 'doesn't need anything' from the country, saying: "They need us, we really don't need them. And we have to do this, I'm sorry, we have to do this."
If Canada were to become part of the USA, the North American map would be dramatically reshaped - as would the political landscape.
Only Hawaii would remain as the sole non-contiguous state while Canada's substantial population of nearly 42 million would transform it into the most populous state overall.
Politically, this would make it larger than California and require two senators plus 55 House seats, consequently decreasing the representation of other state delegations to accommodate the new Canadian representatives.
Effectively, Canada would become the key prize in all presidential campaigns and might overshadow the significance of swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Regarding the acquisition of Greenland, Trump remarked: "Well, I think it'll happen. And I'm just thinking I didn't give it much thought before, but I'm sitting with a man that could be very instrumental. You know, Mark, we need that for international security, not just security - international."
Rutte answered: "I don't want to drag NATO into that."
