President Donald Trump has claimed that Canada is not economically viable without U.S. support, further fueling his idea of annexing Canada as the 51st state. In remarks made aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump argued that Canada does not contribute enough to its own defense and relies heavily on U.S. military protection.
The president stated that Canada pays very little for its share of NATO and military expenses, assuming that the U.S. will protect it. He also asserted that the U.S. subsidizes Canada to the tune of approximately $200 billion annually through various means such as tariffs on cars and trucks.
“If we stopped providing this support, Canada would not be a viable country,” Trump claimed. He suggested that becoming the 51st state of the U.S. would be “the greatest thing” for Canada.
Trump dismissed the border between the two countries as an artificial line drawn with a ruler, suggesting it should not exist. In a separate interview with Fox News, he confirmed his seriousness about incorporating Canada into the U.S., responding to reports that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had warned business leaders about Trump’s plans by saying, “Yeah, it is.”
In early February, President Trump imposed tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. In response, Canada announced retaliatory tariffs targeting American-made goods. However, both countries agreed to delay the implementation of these tariffs.
On Sunday, Trump reiterated his stance on tit-for-tat tariffs and hinted at new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, which would again affect Canada and Mexico. He did not specify whether there would be exemptions for certain countries.