During an unguarded moment caught on a hot mic, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned that former U.S. President Donald Trump’s alleged aspirations to integrate Canada as the 51st U.S. state should not be dismissed as mere rhetoric. Trudeau’s remarks, made during a private discussion at a business leaders’ conference, highlight growing concerns in Canada over Trump’s forceful trade policies and broader geopolitical ambitions, according to multiple reports.
#BREAKING
Trudeau caught on hot mic, saying Trump wanting to take over Canada is a real thing. pic.twitter.com/2pPMkuy53Y— Beautifulcanada1 (@BeautifulCana1) February 7, 2025
The conversation revolved around Trump’s proposed 25 percent tariff on Canadian imports, a policy he has suggested could also extend to Mexico and China. Believing the media had left the room, Trudeau was recorded saying, “Mr. Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country, and it is a real thing.” The comments, later broadcast by CNN, indicated that Canadian officials have begun to take Trump’s intentions seriously.
Trump has previously floated the idea of Canada joining the U.S., arguing that Canadian businesses would benefit from lower taxes under his administration. However, Trudeau has consistently dismissed the notion, reaffirming Canada’s sovereignty and economic independence. Responding to Trump’s past statements, Trudeau once remarked, “There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States. Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other’s biggest trading and security partner.”
The leaked remarks have reignited debate in Canada over its economic and political ties with the U.S., particularly as Trump eyes a return to power. With Trudeau set to step down following his January resignation announcement, his successor will likely inherit the challenge of managing Canada’s relationship with its influential southern neighbor.
Canadians themselves have expressed anger at Americans. During a game between the Ottawa Senator and Minnesota Wild, fans loudly booed the national anthem.
How funny. I am a Canadian expat and I follow a Canadian site on the Internet and the posts on it from Canadian citizens in all but the extreme east coast provinces are mostly positive of Trumps comment about making Canada the 51st State. They really hate Trudeau and keep reminding the people of the way Trudeau treated the people involved in the “trucker protests”. Trudeau is leaving politics soon and his likely replacement will be the leader of the Conservative Party Pierre Marcel Poilievre who will be a perfect replacement for comrade Trudeau. Not that he is speaking of joining the U.S. but definitely speaking like an ally and friend of President Trump. I am very excited about his candidacy.
I was ready to post that Canada becoming one or more US state(s) is Trudeau’s worst fear. That isn’t the same as being the worst fear of Canadian citizens.
Note: I don’t claim to know how Canadians as a whole view the issue. I am fairly confident the desires of a significant number of Canadians differ from those of the current government.