Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau Claims Trump Seriously Wants to Make Canada the 51st U.S. State

Trudeau suggests Trump views Canada's resource wealth as a primary motivation for merger / Reuters

During a private event with industry and labor leaders in Toronto, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shared his thoughts on U.S. President Donald Trump’s previous remarks about wanting to make Canada the 51st state of the United States. According to Trudeau, these comments are not just a negotiation tactic, but a genuine intention rooted in the significant value of Canada's natural resources.

Trudeau emphasized that the Trump administration is very aware of Canada's vast resource wealth, particularly its critical minerals. This, Trudeau suggests, may be the primary reason Trump continues to talk about the possibility of merging Canada with the U.S. “They know exactly what resources we have, and they want to benefit from them,” said Trudeau. He went on to assert that Trump believes the easiest way to gain access to these resources is through a merger, describing the situation as "real" and not a mere joke.

The comment came during a closed-door event that was unintentionally broadcasted to the press through speakers, revealing Trudeau’s honest opinion. Alberta Federation of Labor President Gil McGowan, who attended the event, tweeted that Trudeau believes Trump’s ultimate goal is not just to address issues like the fentanyl crisis or trade deficits, but to dominate or fully absorb Canada.

While this was a candid comment, it’s not the first time Trudeau has addressed Trump’s remarks. Previously, in an interview with CNN, Trudeau had dismissed the idea of Canada becoming the U.S.'s 51st state, claiming it was just a negotiation strategy. However, this new revelation confirms that Trudeau takes Trump’s intentions more seriously than initially stated.

Trump has made repeated comments about making Canada the 51st state. In November 2024, just before taking office, he allegedly told Trudeau, who had come to discuss tariffs, that if the Canadian leader could not meet his demands, Canada should consider becoming the 51st state. Following this, Trump continued to post on his social media platform, Truth Social, supporting the idea of Canada’s integration into the U.S.

The comments from Trump have often centered around issues like border security and the flow of fentanyl, which led to his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico. This decision was later delayed after both countries promised to implement countermeasures.

Through these interactions, it’s clear that Trudeau views Trump’s remarks as part of a broader strategic agenda aimed at controlling Canada’s resources and possibly furthering the U.S.'s political and economic influence in North America.