Trump’s ‘51st State’ Remark Sparks Outrage Among Canadian Politicians

President-elect Donald Trump sent shockwaves through Canada this week by doubling down on his claim that the country is essentially a U.S. dependent. In a fiery press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump pointed out the billions of dollars America pours into protecting and subsidizing its northern neighbor, questioning whether Canada should remain independent at all.

Trump made it clear that Canada contributes little while benefiting enormously from U.S. support:

• “They don’t essentially have a military. They have a very small military,” he said. “They rely on our military.”

• He threatened "very serious tariffs" on Canada until it improves its trade terms and stops illegal crossings into the U.S.

• He called out Canada’s economic reliance on the U.S., saying: “We don’t need their cars. We don’t need their lumber. We don’t need their dairy products.”

Canada’s Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, who is set to become the country’s next prime minister, pushed back against Trump’s remarks.

“Canada will never be the 51st state. Period,” Poilievre posted on X, promising to “put Canada First” if elected.

Trump was unfazed, dismissing Poilievre’s comments with: “Maybe he won’t win, but maybe he will. I don’t care.” He then doubled down, saying he would use “economic force” to pressure Canada, adding that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted his country would “dissolve” without U.S. help.

Trudeau, whose approval ratings have collapsed, is resigning in disgrace ahead of the next elections, where his Liberal Party is expected to be crushed by Poilievre’s Conservatives. Attempting to save face, he responded weakly on X:

“There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States.”

His party even posted a graphic reminding Canadians that their country is not part of the U.S. a laughable attempt to deflect from the real issue. Trudeau’s legacy of weakness, economic failure, and global embarrassment will soon come to an end, but his disastrous policies have left Canada in a vulnerable position.

The real question now is whether Poilievre, or anyone else, can undo the damage before Trump forces Canada to make real concessions.

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