During a recent dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President-elect Donald Trump jokingly suggested that Canada could become the 51st state, according to Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who attended the event. LeBlanc clarified that Trump’s comment was made in jest after Trudeau expressed concerns about potential tariffs that could hurt Canada’s economy.
The dinner, which took place at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club during the American Thanksgiving holiday, was described by LeBlanc as a light-hearted social gathering. He emphasized that Trump was simply teasing and that the comment was not meant to be taken seriously. LeBlanc also noted the friendly and warm atmosphere of the conversation, reflecting good relations between the two countries.
Trump continued the joke on social media, sharing an AI-generated image of himself with a Canadian flag and the caption “Oh Canada!” This sparked some humorous responses from Canadians, including one from former Quebec Premier Jean Charest, who joked about the last time the U.S. tried to invade Canada in the War of 1812.
Despite the levity of the dinner, the discussions also included serious topics, such as trade and immigration. Trump had previously threatened to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico unless they address issues like drug trafficking and irregular migration. Trudeau made it clear that the majority of migrants and fentanyl in the U.S. do not come from Canada, highlighting the significant differences between the two borders.
The dinner also touched on issues such as trade imbalances, with Canada being a major energy and goods exporter to the U.S. Despite the talks, no assurances were made by Trump regarding his stance on tariffs.
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