...
By Sonam Sheth
Evening Politics Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Canada's defense minister on Wednesday addressed President Donald Trump's repeated suggestion that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.
The Context
Trump has been publicly calling for the U.S. to annex Canada since before he took office and reiterated over the weekend that he was serious about wanting America's northern neighbor to become its 51st state.
Read More on Politics
What To Know
Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair reacted to Trump's continual overtures about Canadian statehood during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels on Wednesday.
Blair called Trump's comments "offensive" but said he doesn't believe Canada is "sincerely threatened."
"One of the things I think we need to be very clear to everyone, including Mr. Trump, is that Canadians will always stand up for our nation, our country," Blair said. "We're prepared to defend ourselves as required, and that always sometimes requires sacrifice."
...
Trump was asked in a recent interview if he was serious about wanting Canada to become the 51st state.
"Yeah, it is," Trump said when Fox News' Bret Baier asked him if his comments about annexing Canada were "a real thing."
"I think Canada would be much better off being the 51st state because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada. And I'm not going to let that happen," he said in the interview, which aired Sunday. "Why are we paying $200 billion a year, essentially a subsidy to Canada?"
The U.S. does not subsidize Canada. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, America's trade deficit with Canada in 2023 was about $72.3 billion, and as CNN previously reported, the deficit was caused largely by the U.S. importing Canadian oil, which helps keep gas prices down for Americans.
Trump's comments about annexing Canada came shortly after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was picked up on a hot mic saying he believes the U.S. president's overtures are "a real thing."
Canadian public broadcasting outlet CBC reported that Trudeau made the comments while speaking to business and labor leaders in a closed-door session. His remarks were accidentally aired on a loudspeaker, per CBC.
Trudeau said he believes Trump wants access to Canada's mineral reserves and that he "has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is by absorbing our country and it is a real thing."
"They're very aware of our resources, of what we have and they very much want to be able to benefit from those," Trudeau said, according to CBC.
Canada isn't the only territory Trump wants America to own. He's also said he wants the U.S. to take over Greenland, the Panama Canal and the Gaza Strip. Officials in all four territories have blown off the president's suggestions and said they're not interested in being taken over by the U.S.
What People Are Saying
Andrew Furey, Newfoundland and Labrador premier, told Politico of Trump: "I'm not sure where his agenda is with respect to foreign affairs, but it certainly appears to be an imperialistic, if not colonialistic agenda, that seems to be fixated on expansion of the United States' footprint whether that's in the Middle East, Denmark or Canada."
Denmark's prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, said earlier this month: "Greenland is today a part of the kingdom of Denmark. It is part of our territory and it's not for sale."
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement on Trump's remarks about taking over Gaza: "We will not allow the rights of our people, for which we have struggled for decades and made great sacrifices to achieve, to be infringed upon ... These calls represent a serious violation of international law."
What Happens Next
Trump rankled Canadian officials—as well as officials in Mexico and Europe—when he announced a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports. On Wednesday, all 13 Canadian premiers met with a Trump official in Washington, D.C., to lobby against the steel and aluminum tariffs, which are set to go into effect on March 12.
Those tariffs would be atop an additional 25 percent tariff Trump has threatened to impose on most Canadian goods.
Have a tip? Reach out to Sonam Sheth at s.sheth@newsweek.com or on X @sonam_sheth.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines