 "US President Donald Trump meets with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 6, 2025. AFP File")
Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney now believes US President Donald Trump is no longer interested in annexing Canada and making it the 51st state. While speaking to CNN, Carney said Tuesday (June 24) that the US leader “admired Canada”. When asked whether Trump still had his eyes set on his country, Carney replied: “No”.
“I think it’s fair to say, maybe for a period of time (he) coveted Canada,” the prime minister said.
Earlier, US ambassador to Canada Peter Hoekstra had clarified on May 22 that Trump was “not talking about” turning Canada into the 51st state anymore. However, on May 28, Trump reiterated his call for Canada to become the 51st state if it wanted to reap the benefits of “our fabulous Golden Dome System”.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State. They are considering the offer!”
Carney credits Trump for Canada’s higher defence spending
While Carney has on several occasions declared that the old, close partnership between Canada and the United States was “over”, he credits Trump for pressing Ottawa into spending more on defence.
“The president is focused on changing a series of bilateral relations,” Carney was quoted as saying by CNN. “We’re at NATO. He’s been focused on making sure that all members, Canada included … pay their fair share. I think we’re doing that now,” the PM said.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsOn Trump’s role in West Asia
The Canadian PM acknowledged that Trump had the influence to be a decisive force in the West Asia crisis, referring to the Iran-Israel war and the situation in Gaza.
“He’s used his influence and US power in other situations. We’ve just seen it in Iran. It does create possibility of moving forward and there’s a moral imperative to move forward,” Carney said.