Republican senator says Trump's 51st state rhetoric not 'constructive' during Ottawa visit

A U.S. Republican senator says she doesn't think President Donald Trump's past comments about making Canada the 51st state are helpful as the two countries are locked in negotiations to reach some sort of trade agreement.

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski was in Ottawa as part of a bipartisan delegation meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday morning.

Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Murkowski was asked about Trump's taunts about Canada becoming part of the U.S.

"I cannot explain President Trump's rhetoric about the 51st state. That is his statement [and] I think it has been made very, very clear that most view that as nothing more than a positioning statement…  something to maybe agitate," she said.

"I don't think that's constructive, quite honestly. Certainly here in Canada you can sense that there is a direct hostility, if you will, to that suggestion."

Since his re-election in November, Trump has said multiple times that he wants to see Canada join the U.S. as its 51st state — though his rhetoric has cooled in recent weeks. 

Trump was asked about the idea of Canada joining the U.S. as he was leaving the G7 meeting in Alberta last month and said he still thinks the country should become a state.

"I think it's a much better deal from Canada, but, you know, it's up to them," the president told reporters.

Trump and Carney have been in talks to reach a trade agreement after the U.S. slapped a series of tariffs on Canada earlier this year. Carney had set a deadline for an agreement to be reached a few times but has most recently pushed it back to Aug. 1.

Murkowski was joined in Ottawa by Democratic senators Ron Wyden of Oregon, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada.

Carney briefly spoke to reporters, saying he had a "good meeting" with the U.S. delegation.

The senators showed off Canada-U.S. friendship bracelets they wore into the meeting. 

"Four senators here, [from] both political parties, spent the morning working to build bridges, not throw wrenches," Wyden said of the trade talks.

Wyden said he and his colleagues covered a number of topics with Carney, including Canada's digital services tax and softwood lumber.