Trump: The reason Canada doesn’t pay that much for military is they assume we’ll protect them
Trump Reaffirms Interest in Canada Becoming the 51st State
President Donald Trump reiterated his seriousness about Canada joining the United States as its 51st state during an interview aired Sunday as part of the Super Bowl pre-show.
“Yeah, it is,” Trump told Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier when asked whether his talk of annexing Canada is a real thing, echoing recent warnings from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“I think Canada would be much better off being the 51st state because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada. And I’m not going to let that happen,” Trump declared. “Why are we paying $200 billion a year, essentially a subsidy to Canada?”
However, the U.S. is not subsidizing Canada. The trade deficit between the two nations reflects America’s imports of Canadian energy, with the trade gap in goods reaching $72 billion in 2023.
Despite this, Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada would be better off as a U.S. state—a notion deeply unpopular among Canadians.
Trudeau: "This Is a Real Thing"
Speaking Friday during a closed-door session with business and labor leaders, Trudeau warned that Trump’s talk of absorbing Canada was not just rhetoric.
“Mr. Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country, and it is a real thing,” Trudeau said, according to CBC, Canada’s public broadcaster.
“They’re very aware of our resources and what we have, and they very much want to benefit from those.”
Trump Threatens Canada’s Economic & Military Security
Aboard Air Force One en route to the Super Bowl in New Orleans, Trump continued to apply pressure on Canada, calling it "not viable as a country" without U.S. trade.
He also questioned America's commitment to defending Canada, a founding member of NATO, suggesting that the U.S. would no longer provide military protection.
“They don’t pay very much for military,” Trump said. “And the reason they don’t pay much is they assume we’re going to protect them.
“That’s not an assumption they can make because—why are we protecting another country?”
Tariff Showdown Looms
In his pre-taped Fox interview, Trump said Canada and Mexico have not done enough to avoid the tariffs he has threatened to impose after a 30-day extension expires.
“No, it’s not good enough,” Trump said. “Something has to happen. It’s not sustainable. And I’m changing it.”
Last week, Trump agreed to a temporary pause on his planned 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada, except for Canadian oil, natural gas, and electricity, which would be taxed at 10%.
However, on Monday, Trump plans to announce a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, including those from Canada and Mexico, and unveil a broader reciprocal tariff plan later in the week.
“Very simply, it’s if they charge us, we charge them,” Trump stated.