Trudeau says Trump’s 51st state comments ‘flattering’ but distraction from real harm of tariffs
Posted January 12, 2025 11:15 am.
Last Updated January 12, 2025 12:44 pm.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is ready to respond with retaliatory tariffs should President-elect Donald Trump follow through with a threat to impose 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs when he takes office next week.
In a previously taped interview on MSNBC’s ‘Inside with Jen Psaki’ that aired Sunday, Trudeau reinforced that Trump’s musings about Canada becoming the 51st state was simply a distraction from the real harm that tariffs would have on ordinary Americans.
“The 51st state, that’s not going to happen, it’s just a non-starter. Canadians are incredibly proud of being Canadian,” said Trudeau.
“But people are now talking about THAT as opposed to talking about, for example, what the impact of 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum coming into the United States, on energy whether its oil and gas or electricity.”
Trudeau reiterated remarks he made on CNN last week when he was in Washington for the state funeral of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
“No American wants to pay 25 per cent more for electricity or oil and gas coming in from Canada and that’s something people need to pay a little more attention to and perhaps the idea of a 51st state is distracting a little bit from a very real question that will increase the cost of living for Americans and harm a trading relationship that works extremely well.”
Trudeau said during his first meeting at Mar-a-Lago last November the subject of Canada as a 51st state first came up and when he suggested a trade for Vermont or California, Trump “immediately decided that it was not that funny anymore ” and they moved on to another conversation.
“This isn’t out of the blue that he’s doing this but my focus has to be not on something that he’s talking about that will not ever happen, but more on something that might well happen,” said Trudeau. “If he does choose to go forward with tariffs that raise the cost of just about everything for American citizens, that on top of that, we’re going to have to have a robust response to that.”
Despite new moves to bolster border security, Trump has persisted on the tariff threats, and has upped the ante with comments about Canada becoming a part of the United States, threatening to make it happen through “economic force.”
Trudeau added Trump’s constant trolling about annexation of Canada and references to being the 51st governor do not bother him, saying he’s not focused on “people choosing nicknames for me.”
“If I was that thin-skinned I probably wouldn’t last that long.”
Trudeau says Canadians need to take Trump’s expansionist rhetoric seriously, and that there is a certain amount of “flattery” in Trump seeing how great the country is.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith made her own appeal to Trump this weekend, posting on social media that she spent time at his Mar-a-Lago residence and met with him and key allies in the incoming administration.
Smith said the pair had a “friendly and constructive” conversation on the importance of the U.S.-Canada energy relationship, and how American jobs are supported by Albertan exports.
In one photo she shared online, Smith is seen standing next to Trump and Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary.
“On behalf of Albertans, I will continue to engage in constructive dialogue and diplomacy with the incoming administration and elected federal and state officials from both parties, and will do all I can to further Alberta’s and Canada’s interests,” Smith wrote.
“We need to preserve our independence while we grow this critical partnership for the benefit of Canadians and Americans for generations to come.”
With files from Michael Talbot and The Canadian Press
