In a move that’s as audacious as it is unprecedented, former President Donald Trump claimed Tuesday that Canada is now weighing his long-standing offer to join the United States as its 51st state, thanks to a hefty financial concession.
Trump’s Pitch: Statehood in Exchange for Missile Shield
The former president has repeatedly floated the idea of annexing Canada ever since reclaiming the White House in the 2024 election. Until now, Canadian officials have flatly dismissed the proposal, insisting their nation is not, in Trump’s words, “for sale.”
But on Tuesday, Trump upped the ante.
“I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State,” Trump declared in a post.
The “Golden Dome System”, his administration’s term for a U.S.-led missile defense network has become a cornerstone of Trump’s foreign policy platform. By tying it to a zero-dollar price tag for a newly-minted state, the president believes he’s struck a chord with Ottawa.
“They are considering the offer!” he added, in a follow-up that sparked a firestorm of reactions.
A Deal Rooted in Trade Frustration
Trump first dropped the annexation idea in a tense private meeting with Canada’s former prime minister at Mar-a-Lago. According to sources familiar with the conversation, the president slammed Canada for “milking” the U.S. through an unbalanced trade relationship. Since then, his comments on bringing Canada into the union have gone from speculative to strategic.
In April, Trump reignited his campaign by suggesting a broader North American union hinting at the idea of merging both Canada and Greenland into U.S. territory. The remarks came shortly after Canadian Liberal Party leader Mark Carney staged a surprise electoral win.
Canadian PM Blasts the U.S.: “A System Betrayed”
Carney has not taken Trump’s overtures lightly. In a searing rebuke following his victory, the newly-elected prime minister tore into the U.S., accusing it of abandoning decades of economic partnership.
“The system of open global trade anchored by the United States, a system that Canada has relied on since the second World War, a system that, while not perfect, has helped deliver prosperity to our country for decades, is over,” Carney said.
“We are over the shock of the American betrayal, but we should never forget the lessons. We have to look out for ourselves and, above all, we have to take care of each other.”
His words seemed aimed directly at Trump, whose populist approach has reshaped U.S. relations with many of its historical allies.
Political Fallout: Trump Blamed for Liberal Surge
Some political analysts argue Trump’s rhetoric may have backfired north of the border, triggering a wave of support for Carney’s Liberal Party and helping seal a surprise win.
“These are tragedies, but it’s also our new reality,” Carney added, hinting at the political toll Trump’s words have taken. “We have to take care of each other.”
If Canada Joined: A Nation Doubled
The stakes are more than symbolic. If Canada were to become the 51st state, it would nearly double the geographical size of the United States—an increase of 101.5% in land mass.
While many experts continue to view Trump’s proposal as theatrics wrapped in nationalist bravado, the former president is nothing if not persistent. And with the promise of missile defense, and a $61 billion savings dangled before Ottawa he seems convinced this time might be different.
As of now, Canada remains Canada. But if Trump has his way, that map could look very different in the not-so-distant future.
