President-elect Donald Trump once again floated the idea of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state in a post on Truth Social. He questioned why the U.S. pays to “subsidize Canada” and claimed Canadians would “save massively on taxes and military protection.”
- Trump has repeatedly returned to the idea of Canadian statehood after allegedly joking about it at a dinner with the prime minister (whom he’s taken to calling “Governor Justin Trudeau.”)
Could this really happen? *Sighs deeply* We suppose. A legal expert told the National Post that, theoretically, all or parts of Canada could join the U.S. through Section 41 of the Constitution Act, 1982, requiring consent from the Senate, the House, and every province.
- From that point, the U.S. would have to vote to take us in. Per the U.S. Constitution, Congress can vote for new territories and then vote to incorporate them as states.
- This probably won’t happen. Not just because it would be a logistical nightmare, but because there’s no popular mandate for it to happen coming from Canadians.
Why it matters: Trump’s jokes aren’t just jokes — they’re a tactic highlighting Canada’s reliance on the U.S. as a trade partner and ally. Through trolling and tariff threats, Trump will be able to drive Canadian policy on matters like border control and defence spending.—QH