Speaking at a rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, on Wednesday, October 14, Trump criticised Canada’s trade policies and tariffs on American goods, including milk.
“Canada treats us very badly. They always have. Not anymore. It’s a whole different ball game now that Trump is in town,” he said.
Trump added that Canada would eventually become part of the United States, arguing that the country depended more on its southern neighbour.
“They’ll end up being the 51st state, because that’s the only way it works,” he said. “We don’t need them, but they need us.”
The U.S. president also questioned why Washington should spend billions of dollars supporting Canada and said the country’s territory “just adds to our beautiful plate,” in an apparent reference to his previous remarks about Greenland.
The comments come amid renewed trade tensions between the two countries. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra had suggested that statements by Canadian politicians about retaliatory tariffs could be interpreted as “election interference” ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in November.
Canadian leaders have repeatedly rejected Trump’s suggestion that their country could become part of the United States.
In September, British Columbia Premier David Eby announced plans for border signs declaring the province “never the 51st state.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also dismissed Trump’s earlier remarks, insisting that Canada’s sovereignty was not for sale.
“I can tell President Trump that will never, ever happen,” Ford said.
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