Trudeau rejects Trump’s suggestion of using “economic force” to make Canada the 51st US state

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau firmly rejected US President-elect Donald Trump’s recent suggestion that economic force could be used to make Canada the 51st state of the United States. Speaking out in defence of Canada’s sovereignty, Trudeau dismissed the notion, saying there was “not a snowball’s chance in hell” that Canada would ever become part of the US.

The statement came in response to Trump’s remarks made during a recent event in Mar-a-Lago, where he was asked whether he might consider using military force to acquire Canada. Trump’s reply was, “No, economic force,” adding that Canada and the US would be a powerful combination. Trump, who has long criticised Canada’s trade surplus with the US, also described the US-Canada border as an “artificially drawn line.”

Trudeau responded quickly to the comments, reinforcing the strong economic and security ties between the two nations. He emphasised on social media, “Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other’s biggest trading and security partner.” His comments underscore the mutual importance of the US-Canada relationship, despite the occasional trade tensions.

The remarks sparked further responses from Canadian officials. Foreign Minister Melanie Joly condemned Trump’s comments as showing a “complete lack of understanding” of Canada’s strength. “We will never back down in the face of threats,” Joly added, signalling the Canadian government’s resolve to protect its independence.

Trump has previously threatened to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada, a country that sends 75% of its goods and services exports to the United States. This trade tension has been a point of friction between the two neighbouring countries, with Trump’s rhetoric drawing sharp criticism from Canadian leaders.

Meanwhile, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre also weighed in, stating in a post on social media: “Canada will never be the 51st state. Period. We are a great and independent country.”

Trudeau’s remarks came just one day after he announced that he would step down as Prime Minister in the coming months, under pressure from lawmakers concerned about his Liberal Party’s declining popularity. The announcement has added uncertainty to the political landscape, with the next federal election scheduled for October 20, 2025. Polls currently predict a strong victory for the opposition Conservatives.