Canada must be self-reliant or part of US: Donald Trump

On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, US President-elect Donald Trump declared his intention to employ "economic force" to integrate Canada into the United States, which elicited a strong response from outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This announcement followed Trudeau's resignation, which he had revealed the previous day.

Trump said it in response to a question from a journalist at a press conference held at his ranch and provisional office Mar-a-Lago. Then, his post on the social media platform Truth Social read: “Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State… If Canada merged with the US, there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!”

This was not the first time Trump made such comments. Earlier, on December 10, he had ridiculed Trudeau by referring to him as "Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada" in a social media post, shortly after a dinner held between the two leaders at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

The lighthearted exchanges commenced during the dinner at Mar-a-Lago on November 29. This gathering took place in the wake of a warning from Trump regarding a potential blanket tariff of 25% on all imports from Canada and Mexico, should they fail to adequately address illegal immigration and drug trafficking across the border.

History & economy

However, such threats contravene the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which became effective on July 1, 2020. This agreement governs the predominantly duty-free trade among the three nations and supersedes the previous North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Additionally, the imposition of tariffs would adversely affect the economy of the Great White North*, which is significantly dependent on trade with the United States. Trump has consistently voiced his intention to rectify the approximately $40 billion trade deficit the US has with Canuc*, a disparity that experts attribute to Canada's oil exports.

During the dinner on November 29, Trump allegedly remarked that if Canada fails to fulfil U.S. expectations, it should consider becoming the "51st state," with Trudeau serving as its Governor. This comment reportedly prompted "nervous laughter" from the Canadian delegation, according to a report by Fox News.

Following this exchange, Trump posted a photograph on Instagram, depicting himself standing on mountains beside the Canadian flag. His son, Eric Trump, shared a meme suggesting that the President-elect was "buying" Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal from Amazon.

Canada not amused

However, the Canadian response was largely unimpressed. Many dismissed Trump's comments as mere jokes, while others viewed them as an affront to the nation.

In response to Trump's remarks, Canada’s Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who attended the Mar-a-Lago dinner, characterized the President-elect's comments as "jokes" and "teasing."

Canadians have a long-standing history of resisting annexation attempts by the United States. The formation of the Canadian Federation in 1867 was largely a response to the threat of American invasion, as the province of Canada (now Ontario and Quebec) united with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Prior to this, the United States had made attempts to invade what was then a collection of divided British colonies. Following the declaration of independence from Britain in 1776, the concept of "Manifest Destiny" gained traction, suggesting that it was America's divine right to expand across North America. Nevertheless, British forces emerged victorious in the War of 1812, which played a significant role in fostering a sense of national identity among Canadians.

After the establishment of the Canadian Confederation, the immediate threats of American expansionism diminished. However, initiatives aimed at strengthening ties with the United States faced considerable opposition from the Canadian populace. Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier's proposal for a "reciprocity agreement" concerning tariffs in 1910 was met with disapproval, ultimately leading to his electoral defeat the following year, which concluded his 15-year tenure.

In the 1980s, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's pursuit of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States was successful, albeit not without dissent. He called for elections in 1988, won, and subsequently signed the FTA, which took effect in 1989.

In contemporary times, the few proposals advocating for the merger of the 'land of maple syrup'* with the United States have gained minimal support among the public. A survey conducted by Leger, a Canadian market research and analytics firm, in December 2024 revealed that only 13% of the 1,520 participants expressed a desire for Canada to become the 51st state of the United States, while a significant 82% opposed the notion.

Intellectual hypothesis

In 2014, the Woodrow Wilson Center, a prominent think tank, engaged in a discussion regarding the potential implications of a merger between Canada and the United States. This dialogue was prompted by the publication of a book by conservative journalist Diane Francis, which advocated for such a union. Francis posited that a merger would transform the two nations into a formidable energy and economic entity, surpassing both Russia and the entirety of South America in land area.

During the discussion, Francis emphasized that her book aimed to stimulate a more profound conversation about the economic integration of Victorialand* and the United States. The expert panel ultimately concluded that both nations should look to the European Union model as a source of inspiration for fostering "enhanced cooperation."

“Republicans would never win an election again… the “state of Canada” would profoundly alter the electoral map of American national politics, almost entirely in the Democratic Party’s favour,” In an article for The Conversation, Carleton University professor Aaron Ettinger said, adding that establishing the 51st state of Canada was not in Trump’s best interests.

* The North American country is sometimes referred to as the Great White North, Land of Maple syrup, America's Hat, Victorialand or Canuc.