The US President Donald Trump’s frequent comments about making Canada the 51st US state may not be a joke but rather a “real thing” motivated by the nation’s abundant vital natural resources, according to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Trudeau hinted that Trump is considering Canada’s resources as a strategic asset while speaking at a private business event in Toronto. “Mr. Trump believes that swallowing our nation is the simplest way to do this. Before a microphone broke off, Trudeau was heard stating, “And it is a real thing.”
In recent weeks, Trump has mentioned annexing Canada several times in public. “What I’d like to see is Canada becoming our 51st state,” he said in response to a question on what Canada might do to avoid tariffs in the Oval Office. In a number of posts on his social media account, Truth Social, he also called Trudeau “governor Trudeau.”
His government recently threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian exports, with the exception of energy, which would be subject to a 10% levy. After Canada promised to strengthen border security, Trump agreed to a 30-day tariff reprieve.
31 essential minerals that are necessary for clean energy technology, semiconductors, and batteries for electric vehicles are home to Canada. According to the New York Times, Canada has prioritized lithium, graphite, nickel, copper, cobalt, and rare earth elements as part of its plan to spearhead the world’s shift away from fossil fuels.
Canada’s industry minister, François-Philippe Champagne, emphasized how much the US economy depends on Canadian supply networks. He stated, “This is about a confident Canada.”
An Ipsos survey from January revealed that 80% of Canadians are against joining the US, and many of them wrote off Trump’s remarks as political rhetoric. Trudeau’s comments, however, point to a change in Canada’s perspective on the matter.
