Trudeau to Trump: ‘There Isn’t a Snowball’s Chance in Hell That Canada Would Become Part of the United States’
Donald Trump has ignited a diplomatic firestorm with Canada after suggesting the United States could use “economic force” to compel its northern neighbor to become the 51st U.S. state.
The president-elect drew sharp rebukes from Canadian officials including outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Trump’s comments prompted an immediate and forceful response from Trudeau on X: “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 outgoing prime minister continued.
The controversial proposal came amid a series of provocative statements by Trump about territorial expansion, including discussions about retaking the Panama Canal and acquiring Greenland.
The situation gained additional attention when Donald Trump Jr. visited Greenland this week, lending weight to his father’s earlier comments about territorial acquisitions.
During a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump outlined his vision for absorbing Canada into the United States, suggesting that eliminating the border would enhance national security.
Daily Mail reported that while explicitly ruling out military intervention, Trump emphasized economic leverage as his preferred method of pressure.
“You get rid of that artificially-drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like, and it would also be much better for national security,” Trump said during the press conference.
Trump’s statements revealed his perspective on the current U.S.-Canada trade relationship, citing a trade deficit and questioning the necessity of Canadian imports.
He once again referred to Trudeau as “Governor” and claimed the U.S. is “spending hundreds of billions a year to protect” Canada.
The president-elect specifically targeted the automotive industry, noting that 20 percent of U.S. cars are manufactured in Canada.
“We don’t need their cars,” Trump declared. “I’d rather make them in Detroit.”
In yet another unexpected twist, Trump even suggested NHL legend Wayne Gretzky as a potential Canadian leader, recounting a conversation where he encouraged “The Great One” to run for office, telling him it would “take two seconds” to win.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly strongly denounced Trump’s statements, defending her nation’s sovereignty.
“President-elect Trump’s comments show a complete lack of understanding of what makes Canada a strong country,” she posted.
“Our economy is strong. Our people are strong. We will never back down in the face of threats.”
The Canadian government emphasizes that the relationship between the two nations is a security partnership benefiting both countries.
Daily Mail noted that according to official trade statistics, the economic ties are substantial, with U.S. exports to Canada reaching $428 billion in 2022, while imports totaled $481 billion.
Trump’s comments come at a sensitive time in Canadian politics, as Trudeau recently announced his intention to step down once his Liberal party selects a new leader.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.
Leave a Comment