'If Canada becomes the 51st state': Trump pushes controversial plan as country heads to vote

Donald Trump pushes for US to take over Canada

As Canada holds elections to select a new Prime Minister, US President Donald Trump has once again emphasized his controversial proposal for Canada to give up its independence and join the United States. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump suggested that Canada could become the "51st state" of the U.S.

"Good luck to the great people of Canada," Trump wrote. "Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power for free, and expand your industries—such as cars, steel, aluminum, lumber, and energy—without tariffs or taxes. Canada would see its businesses quadruple in size, with zero tariffs or taxes."

Trump went on to argue that the artificial border separating Canada and the U.S. should be erased, claiming that the union would offer "no negatives" and that "America can no longer subsidize Canada with the hundreds of billions of dollars we have been spending in the past."

His comments, which continue to stir controversy, reflect his long-standing view that Canada could benefit by becoming a state of the U.S. rather than maintaining its independence.

Canadians voted on Monday in a vital election selecting a new government charged with handling increasing annexation concerns from the United States and negotiating the continuing trade conflicts President Donald Trump's policies have caused.