Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said U.S. President Donald Trump isn’t joking—Trump’s suggestion to make Canada the 51st state is a “real thing,” motivated in part by his interest in accessing Canada’s critical minerals, according to a source who heard Trudeau’s remarks during a closed-door session at a summit in Toronto on Friday.
Trudeau made the comment to a group of business and trade leaders gathered to discuss how to protect Canada’s economy amid Trump’s ongoing tariff threats. The remarks came after media had left the room.
In recent months, Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada could avoid tariffs if it agreed to join the U.S. as the 51st state. On social media, Trump has even referred to Trudeau as “Governor Trudeau.”
During an interview on CTV’s Question Period set to air Sunday, Innovation, Science, and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne dismissed the idea, saying, “Canada is a proud nation, and this is not going to happen. Canada’s sovereignty is not in question whatsoever.”
Employment Minister and Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon echoed the sentiment while speaking at the summit. “Canada is free. Canada is sovereign. Canada will choose its own destiny. Thank you very much. But Canada is forever,” MacKinnon said.
What’s next for Canada over the next 30 days?
On Monday, Canada received a temporary 30-day reprieve from Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on all Canadian imports—except for energy products, which would face a 10% tariff—after agreeing to new commitments to strengthen the shared border.
As part of the $1.3 billion border security plan, Canada will deploy additional personnel, drones, surveillance equipment, and helicopters. Additionally, Canada will appoint a “fentanyl czar” and classify cartels as terrorist organizations.
At the summit, Trudeau emphasized the importance of using the 30-day extension strategically, particularly through engagement with U.S. officials on border issues.
“Over the next 30 days, we will show that the small portion of fentanyl that is Canada’s responsibility for entering the U.S. will decrease even further. By working together at our shared border and internationally, we can ensure there’s no reason to move forward with those tariffs,” Trudeau said.
Public Safety Minister David McGuinty surveyed the border from a Black Hawk helicopter in Valleyfield, Quebec, on Friday. When asked by reporters whether the new investments in border security were meaningful in the context of Trump’s annexation suggestion, McGuinty responded, “It does matter what’s happening at the border. These investments are making a strong border even stronger, and that’s important.”
McGuinty declined to comment on whether Canada’s public safety department is making preparations to respond to Trump’s annexation remarks.
