President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, proposing to erase the 5,525-mile border separating the two countries. The idea is widely dismissed as absurd by Canadians, and the legal and political obstacles to making it a reality are immense.
In Trump’s vision, the Lower 48 states would become a contiguous block of 50, with Canada absorbed into the U.S., leaving Hawaii as the only non-continental state.
"If people wanted to play the game right, it would be 100% certain that they’d become a state," Trump said recently.
At first, Canada reacted as though Trump must be joking. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau firmly stated that his country would never become the 51st state. However, behind closed doors, Trudeau has reportedly acknowledged that Trump’s push for annexation might not just be a passing comment but rather something he genuinely believes is possible.
How Could Canada Become a U.S. State?
1. Congressional Approval
For a new state to join the U.S., Congress must approve it.
- A majority vote in the House is required.
- The Senate must overcome a filibuster, which means securing at least 60 votes in the 100-member chamber—an incredibly high bar.
The U.S. Constitution’s Admissions Clause (Article IV, Section 3) states:
"New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress."
Any bill approving Canadian statehood would also require the president’s signature—something Trump has made clear he would gladly provide.
Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham joked on X (formerly Twitter) when all 50 states certified Trump’s Electoral College victory last month:
"They skipped Canada. We’ll fix that next time!"
However, no serious legislation is advancing in Congress to extend an invitation to Canada.
Would Canada Even Consider It?
To put it bluntly: No.
Most Canadian leaders have dismissed the idea outright. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, head of the country’s most populous province, even mocked Trump’s proposal with a counteroffer:
"How about we buy Alaska? And we’ll throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time," Ford quipped. "It’s not realistic."
Throughout history, the U.S. has acquired states through various pathways—from the absorption of the 13 colonies to Congress formally approving Texas’ request to become the 28th state.
In most cases, Congress accepted petitions from territorial legislatures, often bodies that were formed as part of the statehood process.
For Canada to become a U.S. state, a referendum would almost certainly be required to gauge public support. Given the overwhelming Canadian opposition to the idea, such a vote would be a non-starter.
