Trump escalates tensions with Canada, proposing annexation while doubling tariffs on steel and aluminum.
Canada retaliates with $30 billion in tariffs, rejecting Trump’s claims about border security and drug trafficking.
Canadian politics shift as both parties unite, with boycotts of U.S. goods and rising nationalistic sentiment.
President Donald Trump’s latest attack on Canada went beyond imposing higher tariffs, as he openly suggested annexing Canada and making it the 51st U.S. state.
JUST IN: 🇺🇸🇨🇦 The White House suggests Canada may be shifting from ally to competitor 👀
"Canada would be better served if they became the 51st state of the United States" pic.twitter.com/Y3YYyJUrTU
Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of Canada joining the U.S. since his election victory in November. Last month, he told then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he does not recognize the border treaty between the two nations, according to The New York Times.
On Tuesday, while announcing his plan to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, Trump publicly expanded on his vision:
“The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty-First State. This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear.”
Trump even addressed Canada’s national anthem, stating:
“O Canada will continue to play, but now representing a GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the world has ever seen!”
Canada Reacts: Outrage and Economic Retaliation
While much of the world has dismissed Trump’s remarks as bluster, Canadian political leaders are taking them very seriously.
Canada is now preparing $30 billion in retaliatory tariffs, mirroring those aimed at Mexico. The tariffs, initially suspended for 30 days, were enacted via an executive order citing undocumented migrants and fentanyl trafficking from Canada—claims that lack factual support.
“This is a nation-defining moment,” said outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Canada is not a given. Freedom is not a given. Democracy is not a given. We must fight for them.”
The deepening rift between the U.S. and Canada has reshaped the political landscape north of the border:
Mark Carney was selected to replace Trudeau as Liberal Party leader ahead of an impending federal election.
The Conservative Party has joined the Liberals in treating Trump’s threats as a direct attack on Canada’s sovereignty.
A boycott of U.S. goods is gaining momentum, with “Buy Canadian” signs appearing in stores and homes displaying renewed patriotism.
What’s Next?
With Canada pushing back economically and politically, and Trump doubling down on tariffs and annexation rhetoric, the crisis between these two close allies is deepening. Whether this remains a trade dispute or escalates into a full-blown diplomatic crisis will depend on how both nations navigate the next steps.
