US President-elect Donald Trump stirred controversy after sharing a map on social media that appeared to falsely depict Canada as part of the United States, escalating his ongoing rhetoric towards the northern neighbor.
This came after he previously suggested using “economic force” to bring Canada into the US, a statement that was met with sharp condemnation from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
When asked by reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida about the possibility of using military force to annex Canada, Trump vehemently denied it. “No,” he said, before reiterating his belief that Canada should become the 51st US state. Over the past few weeks, Trump has repeatedly stated that he wants to eliminate the “artificially drawn line” between the US and Canada, a move he claims would strengthen both countries, especially in terms of national security.
“Canada and the United States, that would really be something,” Trump said. “You get rid of that artificially drawn line and take a look at what that looks like, and it would also be much better for national security. Don’t forget, we basically protect Canada.”
Trump went on to emphasise the financial burden the US shoulders in terms of protecting Canada, arguing that the US should no longer financially support its northern neighbor. “I love the Canadian people, they’re great. But we’re spending hundreds of billions a year to protect it,” Trump stated, adding that the US should no longer rely on Canada’s trade, including its cars and lumber.
In response, Trudeau, who had resigned the previous day as the Canadian prime minister, sharply rejected Trump’s suggestions.
Taking to social media platform X, he remarked, “There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States.” Trudeau also emphasized the importance of the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries, noting that workers and communities in both nations benefit from their close ties in trade and security.
“Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other’s biggest trading and security partner,” Trudeau wrote.
