Trump jokes Canada could avoid tariffs by becoming 51st US State, report says

Donald Trump recently suggested that Canada could dodge the hefty tariffs he plans to impose by becoming the 51st state of the US. This comment was reportedly made during a dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

The dinner, described by Trump as “very productive,” lasted three hours and took place just days after he announced plans for a 25% tariff on all products entering the US from Canada and Mexico, along with an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods.

Sources informed Fox News that during the dinner, Trump joked that Canada could avoid these tariffs by joining the US as its 51st state. This comment was met with nervous laughter from Trudeau and others at the table. Trump humorously continued, saying that "prime minister" sounds better than "governor." Another person at the dinner suggested that the new state would be very liberal, prompting further laughter and a quip from Trump that Canada could be split into two states: one liberal and one conservative.

Before the meeting, Trudeau had expressed serious concerns about Trump’s tariff plans, stating that they could harm both Canadian and American economies. He stressed that such tariffs would raise prices for American consumers and hurt businesses on both sides of the border.

After the meeting, Trudeau told reporters they had an “excellent conversation.” He later shared a photo on social media, thanking Trump for the dinner and expressing optimism about future collaboration.

Trump, on his platform Truth Social, stated that their discussion covered several critical issues, including the fentanyl crisis, fair trade deals, and trade deficits. He emphasized the urgency of addressing the drug epidemic and noted Trudeau’s commitment to working together to combat it. They also touched on energy, trade, and Arctic policies.

Trump's proposed tariffs are part of his broader strategy to curb the flow of migrants and drugs into the US, holding Canada and Mexico partly responsible for these issues. He declared on November 25 that the tariffs would stay in place until the influx of drugs and illegal migrants ceased.