Trudeau says not 'a snowball's chance' Canada would become part of U.S.
CTV
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said 'there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States,' on the same day U.S. President-elect Donald Trump declared that he’s open to using 'economic force' to acquire Canada.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said “there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States,” on the same day U.S. President-elect Donald Trump declared that he’s open to using “economic force” to acquire Canada.
Trump, speaking at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, refused to rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland. He was also asked if he was considering using military force to acquire Canada.
"No, economic force," he responded. "Because Canada and the United States, that would really be something."
"You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like, and it would also be much better for national security. … We basically protect Canada."
Trump has repeatedly suggested Canada could merge with the U.S. The first widely-reported example came during a Canadian delegation's visit to Mar-a-Lago in early December, which Trudeau attended. Canadian officials chalked up Trump's comments as a tease, but it appears the president-elect has since started to take the idea seriously.
"We're losing $200 billion a year and more to protect Canada, and I said that to, as I called him, 'Governor Trudeau.' I said, 'Listen, what would happen if we didn't subsidize you?' He said, 'Canada would dissolve,'" Trump claimed.
In the past, Trump has accused Canada of accepting a $100-billion subsidy from the United States. It's unclear exactly what he is referencing, but it may refer to the trade deficit between the two countries. A trade deficit occurs when the dollar value of a country's imports is more than its exports. In 2023, the U.S. trade deficit with Canada was US$41 billion.
