President Trump has again quipped that Canada may “have to become the 51st state.”
At a Republican Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump joked that Canada could keep its anthem if it became part of the United States.
Trump has repeatedly suggested absorbing Canada, pointing to its reliance on the U.S.
”We’ll have to work out some deal … because I do like the ‘O Canada’ all right,” Trump said, referring to the anthem. “It’s a beautiful thing. I think we’re going to have to keep it for the 51st state.”
Ottawa has consistently rejected the idea of being absorbed by the U.S., with outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling Trump’s notion a “non-starter.”
Trump’s joke referenced the ongoing trade dispute between the two nations.
“Canada is going to have to pay tariffs on automobiles, lumber, oil and gas, etc., they get 95% of their product from the United States. I think they’ll have to become the 51st state,” the President stated.
In response, Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk altered the lyrics of the Canadian anthem from “in all of us command” to “that only us command” during a Canada-U.S. men’s hockey game on Thursday, where Canada won 3-2 in overtime.
Earlier in the month, Canada imposed 25% tariffs on U.S. goods as retaliation for U.S. levies on Canadian goods, which were initially introduced due to concerns about illegal immigration and drug trafficking. To avoid a trade war, both countries have agreed to delay the implementation of these tariffs until March 4.
Trump has also previously claimed that Canada depends on hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies and military protection from the U.S. to remain viable.