U.S. Threats to Annex Canada
Since December 2024, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. These comments have escalated alongside tariff policies, with Trump explicitly stating his intention to use “economic force” to pressure Canada into joining the United States.
Annexation Statements
Each point represents a statement by a U.S. or Canadian government official about annexing Canada. Click on a point to see more details.
Timeline of Annexation Threats
Trump says he thinks it would be great for Canadians if they became the 51st state
In the Oval Office meeting with PM Carney, Trump says he thinks it would be great for Canadians if they became the 51st state.
Source: Guardian (YouTube)
PM Carney clarifies that Canada is not for sale
Prime Minister Carney responds to Trump's comments about Canada becoming the 51st state by saying that "Canada is not for sale."
Source: Guardian (YouTube)
Trump "doesn't rule out" military force for Greenland but says "I just don't see it" for Canada
In an NBC News interview, Trump reaffirmed his desire to make Canada the 51st state and repeatedly claimed the US "subsidizes Canada to the tune of $200 billion a year." When asked if he would use military force to take Canada, he said "I just don't see it".
Source: NBC News (YouTube)
Trump suggests Canadians should vote for him in federal election
In a Truth Social post on the morning of the Canadian federal election, Trump suggests Canadians should vote for him.
Source: Truth Social
Trump "not trolling" when he says Canada should be a 51st state, he tells Time
In an interview with Time Magazine on April 22, Trump emphatically stated he was "not trolling" about making Canada the 51st state. He claimed the U.S. loses "$200 to $250 billion a year supporting Canada" and that Canada should become a state because "we don't need anything from Canada." When asked if he wanted to be remembered as a president who expanded American territory, Trump responded, "Wouldn't mind."
Source: Time Magazine
Canadian PM Mark Carney confirms Trump mentioned annexation in private call
Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed reporting by Radio-Canada that Trump had brought up the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state near the beginning of their private phone call on March 28, 2025.
Source: CBC News
Trump reiterates U.S. doesn't want Canadian goods
Trump again says U.S. "doesn't want anything" from Canada and claims Canada would cease to exist without American subsidies. He doubles down on calling Trudeau "Governor Trudeau" and reiterates Canada could become a state.
Source: New York Post (YouTube)
White House Press Secretary confirms Trump still wants Canada as '51st state'
When asked about Trump's recent shift in tone toward Canada, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected the premise, stating the president 'still maintains his position on Canada' becoming the 51st state.
Source: Wall Street Journal (YouTube)
Canadian PM Mark Carney has private call with President Trump
Mark Carney says his phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday morning was very "cordial" between two leaders of two sovereign nations. Carney says Trump respected Canada's sovereignty both in his private and public comments.
Source: CBC News
Trump acknowledges Mark Carney as Prime Minister rather than Governor
In a departure from his previous rhetoric, Trump referred to Mark Carney as Prime Minister rather than Governor, signaling a potential shift in tone after their phone call. He described the call as "extremely productive" and mentioned plans to meet after Canada's upcoming election.
Source: Truth Social
Trump calls Canada "our cherished 51st state" during White House lawn remarks with Elon Musk
During remarks on the White House lawn alongside Elon Musk, Trump claimed the U.S. spends "$200 billion a year subsidizing Canada" and said Canada "should honestly become our 51st state," adding it would eliminate border issues, tariffs, and lower taxes for Canadians.
Source: Fox News (YouTube)
Trump declares Canada should become "our cherished Fifty First State" in lengthy Truth Social post
In a detailed post about tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, Trump concluded that "The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State," claiming it would eliminate tariffs, reduce taxes, and improve security. He added that "the artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear."
Source: Truth Social
Trump refers to Trudeau as "Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada" while discussing border policies
Trump posted on Truth Social stating he told "Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada" that Canada's "Weak Border Policies" were responsible for problems with fentanyl and illegal immigration into the United States.
Source: Truth Social
Trump refers to Trudeau as "Governor Trudeau, of Canada" while discussing retaliatory tariffs
Trump posted on Truth Social telling "Governor Trudeau, of Canada" that any retaliatory tariff Canada places on the U.S. would result in the U.S. immediately increasing its tariffs by the same amount.
Source: Truth Social
Trump calls Wayne Gretzky a "free agent" on Canada becoming the 51st state
In a Truth Social post about hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, Trump claimed Gretzky is "somewhat 'low key' about Canada remaining a separate Country, rather than becoming a cherished and beautiful 51st State" and referred to "Governor Justin Trudeau" again.
Source: Truth Social
Trump refers to "Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada" in G7 meeting readout
In a Truth Social post about a G7 Summit, Trump referred to the Canadian Prime Minister as "Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, the current chair of G7."
Source: Truth Social
Elon Musk tweets "Canada is not a real country"
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), tweeted "Canada is not a real country," in response to an article saying that over 170,000 Canadians signed a petition to revoke his Canadian citizenship.
Source: X
Trump refers to Canada becoming "our cherished, and very important, Fifty First State" in hockey game post
Before a U.S.-Canada hockey game, Trump posted on Truth Social that Canada "with FAR LOWER TAXES AND MUCH STRONGER SECURITY, will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished, and very important, Fifty First State" and again referred to "Governor Trudeau."
Source: Truth Social
Trump shares article reporting Trudeau said annexation threat "is a real thing"
Trump shared a Mediaite article on Truth Social reporting that Prime Minister Trudeau was caught on a hot mic saying Trump's proposal for Canada to become the 51st state "is a real thing."
Source: Truth Social
Trump says "I'd like to see Canada become our 51st state"
When asked about his upcoming call with Prime Minister Trudeau regarding tariffs, Trump said, "What I'd like to see is Canada become our 51st state." He claimed the U.S. doesn't need Canada for cars, lumber, or energy, questioning why the U.S. loses "between a hundred billion and $200 billion a year." Trump acknowledged some people call annexation "a long shot" but stated "if people wanted to play the game right, it would be 100% certain that they'd become a state" though "a lot of people don't have a threshold of pain."
Source: C-SPAN (YouTube)
Trump claims Canada "ceases to exist as a viable Country" without U.S. subsidies
In a Truth Social post, Trump claimed the U.S. pays "hundreds of Billions of Dollars to SUBSIDIZE Canada" and without this subsidy, "Canada ceases to exist as a viable Country." He concluded, "Therefore, Canada should become our Cherished 51st State" with "Much lower taxes, and far better military protection...AND NO TARIFFS!"
Source: Truth Social
Trump claims Canadians would get lower taxes and better healthcare
During a press conference in North Carolina, Trump reaffirmed his stance that Canada should become the 51st state, claiming Canadians would benefit from lower taxes and better healthcare under U.S. control. He said, "I would love to see Canada be the 51st state" and claimed "the people of Canada would like it."
Source: CityNews (YouTube)
Trump during virtual speech to World Economic Forum suggests Canada can avoid tariffs by becoming a state
Trump dismissed Canada's importance as a trade partner and reiterated his threats of broad tariffs, saying Canada could avoid them by becoming a U.S. state. According to reports, his comments were met with gasps from the audience.
Source: CityNews (YouTube)
Trump declares "The United States will expand our territory" in inaugural address
In his inaugural address, Trump explicitly stated his territorial expansion ambitions: "The United States will once again consider itself a growing Nation, one that increases our wealth, expands our territory, builds our cities, raises our expectations, and carries our flag into new and beautiful horizons."
Source: ABC News (YouTube)
Canadian officials no longer see Trump's comments as satirical
Canadian government officials reportedly began taking Trump's threats seriously, with Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc stating "the joke is over."
Source: CBC News (YouTube)
Trump posts image of map showing Canada as part of the United States
Trump shared an image from the New York Post on Truth Social showing a map with Canada crossed off and labeled as the "51st state," along with other territorial changes to Greenland, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Panama Canal.
Source: Truth Social
Trump says he would use "economic force" to annex Canada (not military force)
During a press conference, Trump ruled out using military force to annex Canada, instead saying he would use "economic force" as pressure.
Source: CBC News (YouTube)
Trump claims "many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State"
In a Truth Social post, Trump claimed "Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State" and suggested that Trudeau resigned because he knew the U.S. "can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat." Trump added that as part of the U.S., Canada would have no tariffs, lower taxes, and better security.
Source: Truth Social
Trump shares article claiming "half of Canadians favor Trump's proposal for Canada to join the US"
Trump shared a New York Post article on Truth Social featuring Shark Tank star Kevin O'Leary claiming that half of Canadians support Trump's proposal for Canada to join the United States.
Source: Truth Social
Trump wishes Merry Christmas to "Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada"
In a Christmas message on Truth Social, Trump referred to "Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada" and claimed that if Canada became the 51st state, "their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World."
Source: Truth Social
Trump asks why U.S. "subsidizes Canada" and claims "Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State"
In a Truth Social post, Trump questioned why the U.S. "subsidize[s] Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year" and claimed many Canadians want to become the 51st state to "save massively on taxes and military protection." He concluded, "I think it is a great idea. 51st State!!!"
Source: Truth Social
Trump refers to Canada as "The Great State of Canada" regarding Finance Minister's resignation
In a Truth Social post about the resignation of Canada's Finance Minister, Trump referred to Canada as "The Great State of Canada" and to Justin Trudeau as "Governor Justin Trudeau."
Source: Truth Social
Trump refers to "Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada" after dinner meeting
Following a dinner meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social referring to "Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada" and mentioned "in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade."
Source: Truth Social
How to Respond
Economic pressure is being used as leverage to threaten Canadian sovereignty. By making informed choices about the products, services, and companies you support, you can send a message that Canadians reject these threats.
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Sources and Methodology
The information in this timeline is compiled from credible news sources, official statements, and public records. Events from December 2024 through April 2025 are documented to provide a comprehensive view of the escalation in annexation rhetoric alongside trade tensions.
This timeline will be updated as new developments occur. Our goal is to provide factual, educational information that helps Canadians understand the context behind trade tensions and sovereignty concerns.
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