The saga of Donald Trump’s threats to take over Canada escalated as an Ontario politician floated a counteroffer to buy two U.S. states.
While Trump’s idea of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state is largely seen as a major troll, the president-elect seems to be getting more and more serious about the idea.
After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday he is resigning as the country’s leader, Trump credited himself with the move and noted people in Canada ‘love’ the idea of being a state.
In response to Trump’s threats, Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested that Canada should actually absorb at least two U.S. states.
‘You know something, to the president I’ll make him a counteroffer; How about if we buy Alaska and throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time?’ he told reporters amid the threat of looming U.S. tariffs and Trudeau’s resignation announcement.
He told CNN later on Monday that he was joking with his comments.
And Canadian MP Charlie Angus declined the proposal by noting their nation’s laws prevent ‘sexual abusers’ from becoming their leader.
‘Canada has something called democracy,’ the member of Parliament explained in a post to X. ‘It means the leader is accountable to Parliament and can be replaced.’
‘I bet Americans wish they had that now. And convicted sexual abusers don’t get to lead our nation. We’re decent folk,’ he added in reference to the allegations against the president-elect.
Last month, Trump suffered a legal setback as a federal appeals court upheld a New York jury’s decision finding him liable in the E. Jean Carroll sex abuse and defamation case.
Trump announced in late November his intent to impose a 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico in direct response to the proliferation of the migrant and fentanyl crisis.
This sparked Trudeau to immediately fly down to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence for a meeting where he scrambled to get the incoming U.S. president to change his mind about the tariffs.
He told Trump that the tariffs would cripple the Canadian economy, to which Trump suggested that the northern neighbors become a state to side-step the taxes.
Trump believes that Canada is costing the U.S. money and should suffer the economic consequences.
Ontario Premier Ford says Canada is not to blame for any U.S. economic woes, instead pointing the finger at China for sending in ‘cheap parts.’
‘I’ve talked to so many governors and congresspeople and senators and never once did they say Canada is the problem,’ Ford told CNN’s Erin Burnett in a Monday night interview.
‘I’ll tell you who the problem is: China is the problem. China shipping in cheap parts, putting them through Mexico. Mexico slapping on a ‘Made in Mexico’ sticker on and shipping up through the U.S. and Canada. (It’s) costing American and Canadian jobs.’
Ford believes a bilateral deal with the U.S. would address the issue instead of Trump punishing Canada with higher tariffs.
Trump doubled-down on his proposal to make Canada a state on Monday, appearing to be more serious about the proposal.
‘Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social after Trudeau’s resignation. ‘The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned.’
‘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,’ he wrote.
‘Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!’
Ford claims Trump has a sense of humor and in the past has joked when asked about Canada becoming a state.
But on Monday he seemed to think enough was enough, saying: ‘It’s not realistic.’
‘I know he (Trump) likes making these comments and he likes joking around. I take that seriously. He may be joking, but under my watch, that will never, ever happen.’
In a recent post to X, Trump’s son Eric shared a photoshopped image of his father purchasing Canada on Amazon, along with Greenland and the Panama Canal – two other countries the president-elect has floated absorbing.
Trudeau’s Liberal Party in Canada disagreed on how to handle Trump in a second presidential term.
This ultimately led to his resignation on Monday.
Trudeau will remain in power until his party selects a new leader.
In terms of the Canadian general elections coming up in the fall, polls indicate conservatives will win back power with Pierre Poilievre as their leader.
Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Monday morning that it would be ‘very good’ if Poilievre took over as Canadian PM.
‘Our views would be more aligned, certainly,’ Trump said, but added: ‘We don’t need anything from Canada.’
Poilievre credited Trump with Trudeau’s resignation and said he and others displeased with the leadership are ‘relieved’ by the announcement on Monday.