US President Donald Trump has once again put forward his idea for Canada to join the United States as its 51st state, asserting that this change would result in “no tariffs” and “significantly lower taxes” for Canadians. The Canadian government has previously dismissed this notion, reaffirming its dedication to maintaining national sovereignty.

In a recent post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump remarked: “We pay hundreds of billions of dollars to subsidize Canada. Why? There is no reason.” He went on to argue that without American assistance, Canada would face challenges in sustaining itself, proposing statehood as a viable solution that would offer “much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada – and no tariffs!”

This announcement comes on the heels of his decision to implement a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, citing concerns over illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Trump acknowledged that these actions might cause “some pain” for Americans but stressed their importance for achieving long-term advantages.

In retaliation, both Canada and Mexico have announced their own counter tariffs. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cautioned, “It will have real consequences for you, the American people,” suggesting that this would lead to increased prices for groceries and other consumer goods.

Trudeau has categorically dismissed the idea of Canada merging with the United States, asserting that there is “not a snowball’s chance in hell” of it occurring.

This is not the first instance of Trump proposing territorial expansion. Since his return to the White House, he has reignited discussions about acquiring Greenland and asserting control over the Panama Canal, citing reasons of national security. These initiatives have faced rejection from both the governments of Panama and Denmark.

The proposal for Canada to become the 51st state has sparked significant backlash from Canadian officials across various political parties. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre emphasized that “Canada will never be the 51st state. Period. We are a great and independent country.” New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh labeled the idea as ridiculous, claiming that no Canadian wishes for such a union.

Public sentiment in Canada shows a strong disapproval of the concept of joining the US. A recent survey indicated that only 13% of Canadians are in favor of this idea, while a substantial 82% oppose it.