Donald Trump says Canada becoming 51st U.S. state is 'a great idea.' Jean Charest calls the comment a 'wake-up call'
www.ctvnews.ca
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is taking aim at Canada once more, saying it would be 'a great idea' to make it America's ‘51st state.'

Summary

Donald Trump suggested Canada could become the U.S.’s “51st state,” claiming it would benefit Canadians through lower taxes and military protection.

The remark follows tensions over Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian imports, which shocked Canadian leaders, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who likened it to betrayal.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dismissed the annexation talk as unserious but unveiled a $1 billion border security plan to address U.S. concerns.

The escalating rhetoric, including insults from Trump ally Elon Musk, highlights strained Canada-U.S. relations ahead of Trump’s second term.

  • ERROR: Earth.exe has crashed@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    0·
    8 days ago

    Aren’t Canadians less conservative on average, than Americans?

    So sure thing. Republicans might never win an election ever again. Look at all those sweet sweet electoral votes.

    Or make it even better, admit each Canadian Province as a separate state, Republicans may never control a majority in the Senate ever again.

    • ilinamorato@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      8 days ago

      Well, gerrymandering is still a thing, but anyway it would be like adding another California to the US, electorally. The populations are pretty close. And actually, the less-populous provinces are a little more conservative (the truckers protesting covid restrictions were canadians, remember), so actually maybe each individual province being added as a state would work in Trump’s favor.

      Not that he’s thought any of that through, of course.

    • corsicanguppy@lemmy.caEnglish
      0·
      8 days ago

      less conservative on average

      Yes. But, like states, provinces are each all over the spectrum, from “nice” to “winnebago aristocracy hoodwinking the farmers”. Themselves, some of them would support a bully from whom they cribbed their ‘tough guy’ drivel.

      • ricecake@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        0·
        8 days ago

        I think this is one of those “arch conservative” of one country turns out to be left of center in the US.

        • frezik@midwest.socialEnglish
          0·
          8 days ago

          Not really. When people say that, they tend to be focused on healthcare. Which is fair, because US healthcare is barbaric. However, when you open it up to other issues–gay marriage, trans rights, anti-racisim–suddenly the US doesn’t look so far to the right. At least, not in terms of public opinion vs what its government actually does.