Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau firmly stated that Canada has no intention of becoming the 51st state of the United States. “It’s not going to happen,” Trudeau emphasized during a recent interview.
In a conversation with media figures, the Prime Minister responded to President-Elect Donald Trump’s recurring remarks about the possibility of Canada joining the U.S. Trudeau noted, “I know as a successful negotiator, he likes to keep people off balance. The 51st state, it’s not going to happen.”
Amid rising unpopularity as a national election approaches, Trudeau has announced plans to step down in March after his Liberal Party selects a new leader.
Trump has intensified his rhetoric, suggesting the annexation of Canada, remarking that “You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like, and it would also be much better for national security.” He further characterized Trudeau as “Governor Trudeau,” referencing a title typically reserved for leaders of U.S. states.
Despite Trump’s jabs, Trudeau remains focused on more significant issues. “I tend to focus on substantive things, and not on people choosing nicknames for me. I mean, if I was that thin-skinned, I probably wouldn’t last that long in politics.”
Trudeau asserts that the primary reason Canada will not merge with the U.S. is straightforward: Canadians simply do not desire it. While discussing national identity, he highlighted that Canadians often define themselves by stating, “we’re not Americans.” Earlier this week, he famously declared there was not “a snowball’s chance in hell” that the two nations would unite.
The Prime Minister expressed concern over the potential impact of tariffs, which have been a point of tension between Trump and Canada, particularly following the announcement of 25% tariffs on Canadian goods. Such tariffs could have drastic consequences for Canada’s economy and provoke retaliatory measures.
“Canadians are incredibly proud of being Canadian, but people are now talking about that rather than the impact that 25 percent tariffs,” Trudeau stated, noting, “No American wants to pay 25 percent more for electricity or oil and gas coming in from Canada.”
Additionally, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith recently shared on social media that she met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Canada energy partnerships, given Alberta’s status as a major oil and gas exporter.
