When the tariff war between Canada and the US heated up, President Donald Trump on Thursday once again pushed hard to make Canada 51.
And the question continues to appear every time he: is he serious?
On the same day, even the candidates themselves to become the US Ambassador to Canada suggested not.
But Trump, who has issued tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and threatens special tariffs on Canada to come into force next month, told reporters on Thursday “I like Canada” but he “will not bend.”
“The United States can’t subsidize a country for $ 200 billion a year, we don’t need their cars. We don’t need their energy. We don’t need their lumber. We don’t need anything that they give. We do it because we want to help. just can’t do that, “he said in the oval office, arguing canada, a longtime ally, would be much better off without tariffs – as part of the us
President Donald Trump spoke to the press when he met with Secretary General Nato Mark Rutte at the White House Oval Office in Washington, March 13, 2025.
Mandel and/AFP
A few hours before Trump spoke to reporters, Pete Hoektra, a presidential candidate, was in Capitol Hill, was asked about Trump’s 51th country’s idea when he testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
An old Michigan who previously served as US Ambassador to the Netherlands, Hoektra confirmed Canadian independence when asked by Democrat Senator Delaware Chris Coons whether Trump might have to stop joking about making Canada 51.
“Canada is a sovereign country, yes,” he testified.
Pete Hoektra, a candidate for the US Ambassador to Canada, testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the US Ambassador to Mexico, Japan and Canada, March 13, 2025, in Capitol Hill in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
“The president and the relationship between the former prime minister in Canada, the characteristics and nature of the relationship, I do not know, is that where there is humor?,” He added.
Canadian leaders see Trump’s threat because there are no joking problems.
“What he wants is to see the total collapse of Canadian economy because it will make it easier to annex us,” former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has warned.
Trump, continued to mock him by calling him “Governor Trudeau.”
Former Canadian Bank Governor Mark Carney and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke after Carney won the race to become the leader of the Liberal Party in power in Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, March 9, 2025.
Carlos Osorio/Reuters
Replacement of Trudeau, the leader of the Canadian Liberal Party Mark Carney, echoed Trudeau’s defiance.
“America is not Canada, and Canada has never been part of America in any way, form or form,” he said last weekend after he was elected.
Prime Minister of Ontario Doug Ford, who threatened to be responsible for exports of electricity to neighboring countries, has also criticized Trump’s rhetoric.
“Canada will not be sold and will never be the 51st state. Our supply sector is so intertwined, you cannot poison eggs,” he said an interview with CNBC Tuesday.
Trucks to the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Canada and Detroit, Michigan on the first day of a new tariff of 25% President Donald Trump for goods from Canada and Mexico, March 4, 2025 in Windsor, Canada.
Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
This week, Trump highlighted a new twist for his argument – on the grounds that the border withdrawn between the US and Canada was only arbitrary.
“If you look at the map, they draw an artificial line right between Canada and the US, only a straight artificial line. Someone did it for a long time, many, a few decades ago, and did not make sense,” he said Thursday. “This will be the most visually extraordinary country.”
“‘O, Canada,” the national anthem, I like it. I think it’s good. Save, “he said.” But that will be for the state, one of our largest countries, perhaps our largest state. “
Sunlight shines through the Canadian and United States flags, united by a protester outside in the Hill parliament in Ottawa, February 1, 2025.
Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP, File
Adding additional countries requires the approval of the congress, according to the US Constitution. Historically, the residents of the non-US region who joined the Uni chose in the referendum before submitting a petition to the state. The poll shows that it is likely that the Canadian people might not agree to continue.
Not to mention that many political experts think that most of the population of Canadian-51 states who previously chose Blue-democratic.