Tariffs weren&#8217;t the only topic discussed during US President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. According to sources, Trump suggested Canada become the US&#8217; 51st state with Trudeau as the governor.
On November 29, Trudeau flew to Florida to have dinner with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club after Trump <a href="https://dailyhive.com/canada/trudeau-trump-dinner-canadians#comments-208161" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatened a 25% tariff</a> on products from Mexico and Canada. In an email to Daily Hive, a representative for Trudeau said they discussed a wide range of topics that &#8220;centred on collaboration and strengthening our relationship.&#8221;
&#8220;As Canada’s closest friend and ally, the United States is our key partner, and we are committed to working together in the interests of Canadians and Americans,&#8221; they stated.
The following day, Trudeau thanked Trump for dinner and said he looked forward to working together again.
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Thanks for dinner last night, President Trump. I look forward to the work we can do together, again. <a href="https://t.co/lAWFMTtQt7">pic.twitter.com/lAWFMTtQt7</a>
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1862952145550475414?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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But it looks like the dinner might have had some awkward moments.
A source told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-suggests-canada-become-51st-state-after-trudeau-said-tariff-would-kill-economy-sources?intcmp=tw_fnc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a> that when Trudeau stated that imposing a 25% tariff would kill Canada&#8217;s economy, Trump allegedly asked if Canada couldn&#8217;t survive unless it was ripping off the US to the tune of US$100 billion. He then reportedly suggested that Canada become the 51st state, a statement met with nervous laughter.
But Trump wasn&#8217;t done.
He allegedly told Trudeau that if he could not meet his demands &#8220;without ripping the US off in trade,&#8221; Trump suggested that Canada could perhaps become a state or two with Trudeau as governor.
Trump&#8217;s alleged statements have drawn mixed reactions online, with some seemingly favourable to his suggestion.
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Make Canada great again
— Stefania (@bradstefania) <a href="https://twitter.com/bradstefania/status/1863760524682387637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Annex Canada
— Ethereumdigital (@btcsolutions1) <a href="https://twitter.com/btcsolutions1/status/1863751494224273666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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If anyone can get it done, Trump can. This would be a good thing for both Americans and Canadians.
— Ry (@RyGuyFly25) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyGuyFly25/status/1863758063259324830?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Canada would prosper unlike anything it&#8217;s ever seen in it&#8217;s lifetime. Resources out the ass would get developed without all the delays.. Oil and gas in Alberta that&#8217;s been suppressed by US companies can finally stop. I&#8217;m all for it.. haha
— Dwayne Bennett (@DwayneNHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/DwayneNHL/status/1863854274582561103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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However, Trump&#8217;s suggestions were also met with outrage and concern.
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Absolutely NOT! Not under any circumstances. I love America but would resist any effort to force us into a Union with them. Most Canadians would as well. Borders exist for a reason.
— Philip Hughes (@PHughes1971) <a href="https://twitter.com/PHughes1971/status/1863760606290973073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Never! Canada will never become part of the USA. We will weather the 4 year Trump shitstorm just fine
— Canadian,Eh🇨🇦 ☃️🚑🚒🏳️‍🌈🐈‍⬛☮️🇮🇱🇺🇦 (@OneCheekyChicky) <a href="https://twitter.com/OneCheekyChicky/status/1863759102666502466?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Canada won&#8217;t be a 51st state. Hot air as usual.
— Simon Whitehouse (@SciWhitehouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/SciWhitehouse/status/1863755649303322684?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Why don’t you try to annex Mexico first, and we’ll see how it goes?&#8221; asked Redditor <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1h5cv97/comment/m050nf3/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crowmakeswing</a>.
&#8220;I can&#8217;t imagine suggesting to another country that they not exist. Enormous ignorance and disrespect,&#8221; stated <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1h5mcmu/comment/m06xtk7/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ScarletteFever</a>.
&#8220;Woah, folks, this would be awful for Canada. I&#8217;m not a liberal at all, but the US would absolutely drain what little we have that keeps us afloat. They would nearly abandon all social programs and attempt to just harvest all natural resources,&#8221; stated <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/canadian/comments/1h5d4jb/comment/m05dq09/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cerberus_1</a>.
<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/1h5h3ci/comment/m065wpp/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hexxys</a> commented, &#8220;Ugh&#8230; I can&#8217;t believe we&#8217;re going to have to do this all over again.&#8221;
One Redditor had another suggestion.
&#8220;How about Canada pull an UNO reverse card and suggest all the blue states become Canadian provinces instead?&#8221; asked <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1h5mcmu/comment/m071azc/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SquiffyRae</a>.
However, one commenter cautions against taking Trump&#8217;s comments too seriously.
&#8220;I hope people realize Trump wasn&#8217;t exactly being serious, and this was more a jab at Trudeau for mismanagement of the economy,&#8221; wrote <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/canadian/comments/1h5d4jb/comment/m06pt8a/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wet_sock_Owner</a>.
Daily Hive contacted Trudeau&#8217;s office for a comment. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.
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A source said Donald Trump suggested that Canada become the 51st state during a dinner with Trudeau to discuss tariffs and border control.