President Donald Trump repeatedly suggested the idea of making Canada the U.S.’s “51st state” during a March phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the Liberal leader revealed Thursday a remark that has further inflamed tensions ahead of Monday’s closely watched Canadian election.
The two leaders spoke on March 28, but Carney had not previously disclosed Trump’s comments until pressed by reporters at a campaign event. “The president brings this up all the time. He brought it up yesterday. He brought it up before,” Carney said, adding, “I said that he did. He has these things in his mind. This is not news.”
Carney firmly dismissed the notion, stating, “To be clear, as I’ve said to anyone who’s raised this issue in private or in public, including the president, it will never happen.”
Trump, who has long mused about Canada’s relationship with the U.S., previously referred to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor” a title reserved for state leaders and has frequently brought up the “51st state” idea since leaving office. The remarks have sparked backlash in Canada, where Trump’s aggressive trade policies and political rhetoric have become central issues in the election.
Despite claiming neutrality in Canada’s election, Trump’s shadow looms large. His administration’s tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and automobiles coupled with his controversial comments have fueled a surge in Canadian nationalism, even in Quebec, where separatist sentiments have historically run high.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Carney’s main rival, has also condemned Trump’s policies, particularly the auto tariffs, which he called “unjustified and unprovoked.” Both major parties are vying to position themselves as the best defense against U.S. economic pressure.
With a record-breaking 7 million Canadians already casting early votes, polls show a tightening race between Carney’s Liberals and Poilievre’s Conservatives. The outcome could hinge on which leader voters trust most to stand up to Trump’s America.
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