President-elect Donald Trump sent shock waves early Wednesday by making a provocative comment about Canada: Why is the US subsidizing its northern neighbor by over $100 million annually? Trump vented on Truth Social. “No one can answer why we subsidize Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year? Makes no sense!
“He further propounded that Canada should be the” 51st state, reasoning that many Canadians will gain from this move by tax savings and US military protection. The comments from Trump arise when the political tension grows between the two countries more, especially after the resignation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Canada in person of Chrystia Freeland under Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The president-elect had earlier threatened to put a 25% tariff on goods imported from Canada and Mexico, and a further 10% tariff on products from China.
He would argue that the tariffs will force those countries to be focused on stemming the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into the US while tightening border security.
Trump has been vocal about the issue of fentanyl, stating on Truth Social that he had spoken to Trudeau about the drug epidemic. Following their phone conversation, Trudeau visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago for a face-to-face meeting. Trump later posted that he had made it clear to the Canadian leader that the US would no longer tolerate the influx of drugs that were contributing to widespread death and hardship.
This all against the backdrop of growing tensions, and Freeland’s resignation shook the Canadian government, which Trump deemed as “totally toxic.” He further joked by calling Trudeau the “governor” of the “Great State of Canada,” which amplified the political ramifications.
