Hours after the resignation of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday renewed his offer of making Canada the 51st state of the United States.
Trudeau, announced he would be resigning before general elections later this year. His Liberal Party is polling poorly as tensions with Trump have risen over the issue of tariffs.
The Canadian prime minister said in the press conference he made the decision over the holidays, and he asked lawmakers to take a recess until March 24 so the Liberal Party can select a new leader, who will then take over as prime minister.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,” Trudeau said.
Following the news of Trudeau resignation, the newly elected US president Donald Trump who has never had a good relationship with Trudeau even during his first term from 2017-2021, floated his idea of making Canada the 51st state of the United States.
READ ALSO: Biden bans new offshore drilling along most of the U.S. coastline
“Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned,” Trump posted to his Truth Social site.
“If Canada merged with the US, there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!” said the president-elect after the resignation of Trudeau on Monday.
This touting idea or rather joke he began making last fall, ever since he met Trudeau after his November 5 electoral victory in Mar-a-Lago. Thereafter, he has been mentioning this on his social media posts several times, along with referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau,” mocking mocked Trudeau as “Governor of the Great State of Canada”.
Trump also said Trudeau resigned because he knew the U.S. “can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat.”
There has not been much reaction to Trump’s proposal from the Canadian side. Trump has threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports if Toronto is not able top stop the flow of illicit drugs and illegal migrants from its southern border with the US.
