America’s top diplomat has addressed the topic of former President Donald Trump’s repeated calls for Canada to become the 51st state of the United States, clarifying that the current administration has not taken any concrete steps towards realising this vision.
On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke about the matter during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, where moderator Kristen Welker sought confirmation on whether the US government was actively pursuing Trump’s expansionist ideas. Rubio provided context by explaining the rationale behind Trump’s statements, saying, “What the president has said, and he has said this repeatedly, is he was told by the previous prime minister that Canada could not survive without unfair trade with the United States, at which point he asked, ‘Well, if you can't survive as a nation without treating us unfairly in trade, then you should become a state.’ That's what he said.”
Although Trump’s calls for Canada to join the US have drawn widespread attention, Rubio made clear that no official policies or actions have been initiated by the administration to pursue this outcome.
Trump’s ambitions have extended beyond Canada to include the acquisition of Greenland, a Danish self-governing territory. Citing Greenland’s strategic geopolitical importance, particularly its military significance, Trump voiced his intent to secure the territory during various public remarks and private discussions with foreign leaders. In his February address to Congress, Trump stated, “We need Greenland for national security and even international security. And we're working with everybody involved to try and get it. And I think we're going to get it one way or the other. We’re going to get it.” Earlier, in December 2024, he had also expressed frustration on social media platforms about the US subsidising Canada annually, adding, “Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it is a great idea.”
The prospect of Canada’s annexation was treated seriously by Canadian officials. In February, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau inadvertently revealed during a conversation with business and labour leaders that Trump’s intentions were genuine. Trudeau was quoted as saying, “Mr. Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country and it is a real thing. They’re very aware of our resources, of what we have and they very much want to be able to benefit from those.”
Currently campaigning for a full term as Prime Minister, Mark Carney addressed the issue during a recent press conference, revealing that Trump raised the topic frequently in conversations with him. Carney said, “The president brings this up all the time. He brought it up yesterday. He brought it up before.” However, he firmly dismissed the possibility, stating, “To be clear, as I’ve said to anyone who’s raised this issue in private or in public, including the president, it will never happen.”
The ongoing discourse over US expansionist proposals highlights the complex and sometimes unconventional diplomatic dynamics between the two countries and their leaders. The Independent is reporting.
Source: Noah Wire Services