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By Monica Sager
Live News Reporter
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In a post to Truth Social on Monday, President-elect Donald Trump suggested that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau knew "many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State" and the tariff policies Trump said he would enforce, leading to Trudeau's resignation announcement earlier today.
"Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat," Trump posted. "Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned."
Newsweek reached out to Trudeau and Trump's press teams for comment.
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Why It Matters
Trudeau officially resigned as leader of the Liberal Party during a news conference on Monday. He will stay on as prime minister until a successor is chosen.
A growing number of Liberal members of parliament have been calling for Trudeau to step down as the prime minister's popularity continues to decline. Polling suggests that Trudeau would likely be swept out of power in the next election by the opposition Conservative Party. Trudeau had initially gained popularity during his time in office because he pushed progressive policies. Now, however, people are bucking those ideas. The soaring costs of living, housing and immigration have significantly hurt Trudeau politically.
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What To Know
Trump has recently taken some jabs at the prime minister, including suggesting that Canada could become the 51st state of the U.S. if it does not want to pay the proposed 25 percent tariffs suggested by the president-elect.
Trump threatened a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico unless the countries reduce migrants and drugs coming into the U.S. Trump has insisted that tariffs, which are taxes imposed by a country on imports, are paid for by foreign countries, but it is importers—companies in the U.S.—that pay tariffs and the money goes to the U.S. Treasury.
"If Canada merged with the U.S., 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," Trump posted on January 6. "Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!"
The U.S. is Canada's biggest trading partner by a distance, accounting for approximately 75 percent of Canada's exports. The countries currently trade under a largely duty-free deal, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which was signed into law by Trump and took effect in 2020.
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In September, the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) reported that with the tariff proposals Trump campaigned on, the U.S. economy would be almost a percentage lower than otherwise by 2026.
Trump, however, has said the tariffs will be a part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drug trafficking. In a post on Truth Social, he said that "thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before."
In December, Trudeau's Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned from her post after she criticized Trudeau for his handling of Trump's threat of 25 percent tariffs. Trudeau allegedly pleaded with the president-elect not to implement the new levy during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago in November. Freeland reacted by cautioning against "expensive political stunts."
"For the past number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada," she wrote. "Our country today faces a grave challenge."
Trudeau visited Trump in Mar-a-Lago in November, making the Canadian prime minister the first G7 leader to visit Trump since the November 5 U.S. presidential election. Trump called the discussion "very productive" and said they talked about topics including fentanyl, illegal immigration, and trade.
What People Are Saying
Trudeau in his speech at the press conference Monday: "I have always been driven by my love for Canada... If I am having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election."
Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto told the Associated Press: "Trudeau's resignation had an inevitability about it since the party lost by-elections in Toronto and Montreal strongholds, beginning in the summer."
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in a taped message posted on X: "Canadians desperate to turn the page on this dark chapter in our history might be relieved today that Justin Trudeau is finally leaving."
What's Next
Canada's next election must take place on or before October 20. Trump takes office on January 20.
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