During a pre-Super Bowl interview on Fox News, former President Donald Trump made waves with a bold statement about his vision for Canada’s future—suggesting that the country could become the 51st state of the United States. When host Bret Baier asked whether this idea was serious, Trump didn’t hesitate.
“Yeah, it is,” he replied, reinforcing his stance that Canada would be “much better off” as part of the U.S. He went on to claim—incorrectly—that the U.S. carries a $200 billion trade deficit with Canada.
“Why are we paying $200 billion a year essentially in subsidy to Canada?” he questioned. “Now, if they’re a 51st state, I don’t mind doing it.” However, according to official reports from the Census Bureau, the real trade deficit was around $63 billion last year, slightly down from $64 billion in 2023. When excluding oil and gas, the U.S. actually ran a $30 billion surplus with Canada, exporting vast amounts of consumer goods, agricultural products, and electronics.
A Controversial Vision
Initially, many Canadian officials dismissed Trump’s remarks as a joke. In December, some even laughed off his teasing references to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a “governor.” But as time went on, those lighthearted reactions turned into serious concerns.
A leaked audio recording obtained by the CBC captured Trudeau in a private conversation, warning that Trump’s vision of annexing Canada wasn’t just political banter. “Mr. Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country, and it is a real thing,” Trudeau said. “They’re very aware of our resources, of what we have, and they very much want to be able to benefit from those.”
Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada’s center-left New Democratic Party, took the concern a step further, arguing that Trump’s fixation on Canada wasn’t about borders at all. Instead, Singh suggested it was about securing control over Canada’s rich deposits of critical minerals—resources essential for Elon Musk’s Tesla empire. “This isn’t about the border for Donald Trump,” Singh posted on social media. “It’s about our water and the critical minerals that Elon Musk needs.”
Escalating Economic Tensions
What started as a few eyebrow-raising social media posts from Trump in November quickly evolved into more aggressive rhetoric. By January, Trump was openly discussing the use of “economic force” to exert control over Canada. This marked a dramatic escalation from his previous threats to acquire Greenland or take over the Panama Canal.
His latest move? A sweeping 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports to the United States, a policy set to take effect immediately. This levy will apply to Canada and Mexico, despite a previously negotiated one-month moratorium agreed upon with Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Canadian Leaders Push Back
The announcement of tariffs triggered an immediate backlash from Canadian leaders, who saw it as yet another destabilizing move in an already turbulent trade relationship.
“This is the next four years,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned in a social media post. “Shifting goalposts and constant chaos, putting our economy at risk.”
Quebec’s Premier, François Legault, called for urgent renegotiations on the free trade agreement with the U.S., citing uncertainty and economic instability. “We must put an end to this uncertainty,” he urged.
He also raised a critical question: If Trump blocks Canadian aluminum, where does he expect the U.S. to get its supply?
“Québec exports 2.9 million tons of aluminum to them, or 60 percent of their needs,” Legault stated. “Would they prefer to source from China?”
François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s industry minister, emphasized the importance of North America’s integrated trade network. “The aluminum and steel trade makes our continent more competitive and secure,” he argued, reinforcing the idea that economic cooperation, not division, benefits all parties involved.
Meanwhile, Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois, took direct aim at Trump. “Mr. Trump, there is no scenario where the U.S. will produce enough aluminum to replace Quebec’s share in your market before the end of your mandate,” he wrote in a scathing social media post. “You are exposing your leading industries to serious inflation.”
“Without the U.S., Canada Really Doesn’t Have a Country”
Trump’s economic warfare wasn’t the only eyebrow-raising remark he made during the Super Bowl weekend. As he traveled to the game aboard Air Force One, he took a direct shot at Canada’s independence.
“Without the U.S., Canada really doesn’t have a country,” he declared. “They do almost all of their business with us. And if we say we want our cars to be made in Detroit, with a stroke of a pen, I can do that.”
These comments have fueled ongoing concerns about Trump’s vision for North America and how he might wield economic power to reshape its geopolitical landscape. For now, Canadian leaders remain on high alert, bracing for what could be an even more unpredictable chapter in U.S.-Canada relations.
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