Donald Trump is making news again abroad, this time by making a questionable offer to Canada.
The Republican leader has outlined a fresh plan that would add Canada to the United States—with one requirement: Canada needs to become the 51st state.
He said in a May 27 post on his Truth Social platform that he has held out an offer of peace to Canada, symbolized by the stars and stripes.
I explained to Canada, who loves the Golden Dome System, that staying separate but unequal would cost $61 Billion Dollars, but it would cost nothing if they joined as our 51st State.
The “Golden Dome System” is thought to describe a missile defense program that bears resemblance to Israel’s Iron Dome.
Widespread instruments in orbit
The president indicated during the week that the U.S. has made a final choice on the missile defense system’s design.
According to him, the Golden Dome is set to launch “before his presidency is over” and will also secure the air. President Trump says there will be an expansive network of space-based sensors and interceptors which could block threats coming from most anywhere.
According to Trump, Canada has offered to join the program, but they will not fork out the amount the United States is asking for its indie status.
Instead, statehood is the idea he’s presenting—which he’s calling the “zero dollar” option.
It’s useful to remember that Trump’s idea was proposed before.
During a visit to Washington earlier this year, Canada’s previous defence minister, Bill Blair, said the country could be part of the dome initiative because it matches their national interests.
Canada’s answer
In his second term, he has initiated broad tariffs that affect economies everywhere, including Canada’s. Trade friction exploded between Canada and the United States after President Trump slapped tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum which Canada answered with similar measures.
During that time, Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister, dismissed Trump’s attempts, saying Canada would never become the 51st state of America.
Since Mark Carney — former Bank of Canada governor — was elected prime minister on April 28, the direction hasn’t shifted. Early in his appointments, Carney remained confident in his words.
Canada will not be sold to anyone.
There has been no confirmation from the company.
But given Trump’s no-back-down-from-a-hard-question philosophy, his new pressure may come as little surprise.
According to him, “Canada may consider the offer we put forward.”
Ottawa has not confirmed the meeting and political analysts in both countries view the report as a serious political issue that also involves a good deal of theater. The position remains that Trump is ready to trade important national and trade benefits in return for a shaky and dramatic political move.
How Canadians weigh up statehood—as a step towards independence or a loss of it—is an open question. History has made it clear that Donald Trump isn’t shy about making major announcements every time he does a deal.