In a candid moment during a dinner at his Mar-a-Lago estate, President-elect Donald Trump reportedly joked with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada should consider becoming the 51st U.S. state if it cannot handle the aggressive tariff plan Trump is pushing.
The meeting, which took place on Friday in Palm Beach, Florida, was centered around Trump’s threat to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, a move that could significantly impact the Canadian economy. Trudeau, 52, reportedly expressed concerns during the three-hour dinner, warning that such a levy could “kill” Canada’s economy.
Trump, 78, allegedly responded with a sarcastic remark, questioning whether Canada could survive without “ripping off the US to the tune of $100 billion,” referring to the U.S. trade deficit with its northern neighbor. In a lighthearted moment, Trump joked that Canada could join the U.S. as its 51st state, with Trudeau serving as the state’s governor. While Trudeau and others at the table laughed “nervously,” Trump later admitted that the title of “prime minister” was likely a better fit for Trudeau than “governor.”
The dinner conversation also touched on the political makeup of Canada, with Trump suggesting that if the country were to become a U.S. state, it could be split into two: one liberal and one conservative. The exchange highlighted the ongoing tensions between the two nations, with Trump reiterating his stance on Canadian trade policies and demanding that Canada take stronger action against illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
Trump has made it clear that unless Canada addresses these issues by his inauguration on January 20, he will follow through with his plan to impose tariffs on Canadian goods. Despite the tense subject matter, the President-elect described the meeting with Trudeau as “very productive” in a post on his Truth Social platform.
