'Not a joke anymore, we're mad': Canada foreign minister on Trump's '51st state' jibe

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly on Wednesday hit out at US President Donald Trump over his comment to make the country America’s ‘51st state’, saying that she takes his remarks “very seriously.”

In an interview with BBC, Joly said, “This is not a joke anymore. There’s a reason why Canadians, when they go out on a hockey game, are booing the American national anthem… We’re insulted. We’re mad. We’re angry.”

The US President on several occasions has said that Canada should come under the ambit of the US and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can become the governor of the Canadian state.

Last month, Trump said he is serious about wanting Canada to become the 51st State in an interview with Fox News.  “I think Canada would be much better off being the 51st State because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada. And I’m not going to let that happen,” he said. “Why are we paying $200 billion a year, essentially a subsidy to Canada?”

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Joly’s comments come after Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods went into effect on March 4. Trudeau has called American tariffs “very dumb” and said that Trump is appeasing Russia while launching a trade war against Canada.

In a blunt news conference during his final days in office, Trudeau said that Canada would plaster retaliatory tariffs on more than $100 billion of American goods in response to Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs.

“Today the United States launched a trade war against Canada, their closest partner and ally, their closest friend. At the same time, they are talking about working positively with Russia, appeasing Vladimir Putin, a lying, murderous dictator. Make that make sense,” a visibly angry Trudeau said.

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On Tuesday, reacting to Canada’s retaliatory tariffs, Trump said, “Please explain to Governor Trudeau, of Canada, that when he puts on a Retaliatory Tariff on the US, our Reciprocal Tariff will immediately increase by a like amount!”

Meanwhile, the Canadian foreign minister said, “We didn’t want this trade war. We did everything that was required under the executive order to make sure our border was safe and secure.”

With inputs from AP