Trump suggests US-Canada merger using “economic force,” sparking sharp responses from Canadian leaders
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau firmly rejected the idea of Canada merging with the United States, stating, “There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States.”
His remarks came on the same day US President-elect Donald Trump said he was open to using “economic force” to acquire Canada, as reported by BNN Bloomberg.
Trump made the comments during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, where he also refused to rule out the use of military force to seize the Panama Canal and Greenland.
When asked if he would consider military action to acquire Canada, Trump responded, “No, economic force. Because Canada and the United States, that would really be something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like, and it would also be much better for national security. … We basically protect Canada.”
Trump has repeatedly suggested the possibility of Canada joining the United States.
During a December meeting with Canadian officials at Mar-a-Lago, which Trudeau attended, Trump first raised the idea. Canadian officials initially dismissed his comments as a tease.
However, according to BNN Bloomberg, Trump’s recent remarks suggest he has become more serious about the proposal.
Trump claimed the United States spends US$200bn annually to protect Canada.
He also alleged that Canada relies heavily on US subsidies, stating, “We’re losing US$200bn a year and more to protect Canada, and I said that to, as I called him, ‘Governor Trudeau.’ I said, ‘Listen, what would happen if we didn’t subsidize you?’ He said, ‘Canada would dissolve.’”
In the past, Trump accused Canada of receiving a US$100bn subsidy from the United States. While the claim’s basis remains unclear, it may refer to the trade deficit between the two countries.
In 2023, the US trade deficit with Canada was US$41bn. However, Trump’s estimate of subsidies increased to US$200bn on Tuesday. CTVNews.ca has reached out to Trump’s office to clarify the figure.
Trudeau immediately addressed Trump’s comments on social media.
There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 7, 2025
Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other’s biggest trading and security partner.
“There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States. Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other’s biggest trading and security partner,” he stated.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly also criticised Trump’s remarks, writing on X that they “show a complete lack of understanding of what makes Canada a strong country.”
President-elect Trump’s comments show a complete lack of understanding of what makes Canada a strong country.
— Mélanie Joly (@melaniejoly) January 7, 2025
Our economy is strong.
Our people are strong.
We will never back down in the face of threats.
Joly emphasised the strength of Canada’s economy and people, adding, “We will never back down in the face of threats.”
Joly, widely seen as a potential successor to Trudeau, commented as Trudeau announced his decision to step down as Liberal leader and eventually resign as prime minister.
US President Joe Biden responded to Trudeau’s resignation by expressing gratitude for his leadership. In a letter, Biden referred to Trudeau as a “friend” and wrote, “The world is better off because of him.”
Biden praised Trudeau’s work on critical issues such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and tackling fentanyl.
“Over the last decade, Prime Minister Trudeau has led with commitment, optimism, and strategic vision. The US-Canada alliance is stronger because of him,” Biden stated. He contrasted sharply with Trump, who referred to Canada as the United States’ 51st state on Truth Social.
Trump also tied Trudeau’s resignation to US-Canada trade issues, claiming on Truth Social that Canada depends on the United States to survive.
“If Canada merged with the US, there would be no tariffs, taxes would go way down … Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!” he wrote.
The potential tariffs Trump has proposed, including a 25 percent levy on Canadian exports, could have significant implications for trade.
In 2023, Canada imported $461.5bn in goods from the United States and exported $540.3bn, making it the world’s largest trade relationship, according to the US International Trade Association.
Biden, in his letter, underscored the importance of the relationship, writing, “We have made generational investments to strengthen our supply chains and rebuild our economies from the bottom up and middle out—establishing North America as the most economically competitive region in the world.”
Trump concluded his comments by mentioning a conversation with Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. He recalled jokingly suggesting that Gretzky run for political office. “I told him run for prime minister … You’ll win in two seconds,” Trump said.
He claimed Gretzky responded by asking whether he should run for prime minister or governor, to which Trump replied, “Let’s make it governor. I like it better.”
