Amid crisis in Canada, Trump reiterates that many Canadians want Canada to be US's 51st state.
Donald Trump gave another nudge to the 51st state row at night as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces fresh trouble in his country following deputy PM and finance minister Chrysia Freeland's resignation. In his night post, Trump said many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st state as he questioned why the United States should subsidize Canada so much. No one can answer why we subsidize Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year? Makes no sense! Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it is a great idea. 51st State!!!
'Trump is serious about making Canada 51st state'
The 51st state narrative stemmed from the Mar-a-Lago meeting between Trudeau and Trump.Trudeau flew to Florida to meet Trump even before he took over as the President because Trump threatened Canada and Mexico with a 25 per cent tariff -- unless these two neighbors stop sending drugs and illegal immigrants to the US, Trump said. At the meeting which went well, according to both Trump and Trudeau, Trudeau told Trump that Canada's economy will collapse if Trump imposes the tariff. To this, Trump apparently joked and said that in that case Canada could become the 51st state of the United States and Trudeau would become the Governor of this 51st state.
While it was a dinner table joke supposed to stay at Mar-a-Lago, it did not as it was widely reported and Trump too publicized it.
MAGA supporters cheered after Freeland resigned as it was another blow to the Trudeau government and they credited Trump for delivering the blow as Donald Trump's tariff threat triggered the meltdown in the Trudeau government.
After Freeland's resignation, calls for Trudeau's resignation are only growing louder as his resignation, even his allies think, is the only way now as the election will be held in October next year. Freeland cited disagreement with Trudeau as the reason for her exit.
Will Canada get a new PM before next year's election?
Trudeau is reflecting on complaints about his leadership, a close ally said without commenting on the possibility of a resignation. Dominic LeBlanc was named the new finance minister after Freeland's resignation. Trudeau spoke about the turmoil in the leadership at a party event and said, "We really are a big family. Now like most families, sometimes we have fights around the holidays, but of course, like most families, we find our way through it."
If Trudeau resigns, Freeland could also join the Liberal leadership race to become the prime minister.