Politics
HOT MIC: Trudeau Panics Over Trump’s ’51st State’ Push
President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that he will be pushing for the United States to annex Canada as the nation’s “51st state” in recent weeks. While many political analysts and lawmakers view Trump’s comments as a joke, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, or “Governor Trudeau” as the president has referred to him, believes the push is sincere.
In a closed-door meeting with Canadian business and labor leaders, Trudeau reportedly affirmed that Trump’s push to annex his nation’s northern neighbor is a “real thing.”
“Mr. Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country and it is a real thing. In my conversations with him on …” Trudeau was caught saying on a hot mic before the audio cut out, according to a report from CBC. Members of the press had been asked to leave the room before the closed-door meeting got underway, though reporters with CBC and the Toronto Star were able to hear the conversation and managed to record it.
“I suggest that not only does the Trump administration know how many critical minerals we have, but that may be even why they keep talking about absorbing us and making us the 51st state,” Trudeau went on to say, according to reporters who heard the conversation. “They’re very aware of our resources, of what we have, and they very much want to be able to benefit from those.”
Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labor, confirmed what the Canadian prime minister told business leaders in an X post.
“Yes, I can confirm that Trudeau said his assessment is that what Trump really wants is not action on fentanyl or immigration or even the trade deficit, what he really wants is to either dominate Canada or take it outright,” McGowan wrote. “Tariffs are a tactic towards that end.”
Trump, who has also floated the idea of acquiring the Danish territory of Greenland, first pitched the idea during his meeting with Trudeau at Mar-A-Lago back in November. The U.S. president referred to Canada as the future “51st state” as recently as last week after he opted to place 25 percent tariffs on Canadian imports to the United States if Trudeau’s government did not take steps to prevent the flow of illegal immigration and illicit drugs over the U.S. border.
“We pay hundreds of Billions of Dollars to SUBSIDIZE Canada. Why? There is no reason,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We don’t need anything they have. We have unlimited Energy, should make our own Cars, and have more Lumber than we can ever use. Without this massive subsidy, Canada ceases to exist as a viable Country. Harsh but true!”
“Therefore, Canada should become our cherished 51st state,” Trump added. “Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada – AND NO TARIFFS!”
The president later announced that the tariffs would be placed on hold after Trudeau caved less than 48 hours after they were announced. As part of the agreement, Trudeau pledged to deploy thousands of additional military and border control assets to the U.S. border, along with an additional $1.3 billion in border security funding. The announcement came less than 12 hours after Mexico’s left-wing government also folded and announced similar measures.
“We will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering,” Trudeau wrote in an X post. “I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million.”
