Trump says Canada ‘serious contender’ to be 51st state: ‘They need our protection’

WASHINGTON — President Trump said Thursday that Canada is a “serious contender” to become the 51st state, alleging that America’s neighbor to the north needs US “protection.”

Trump, 78, has repeatedly floated the idea of Canada joining the Union — even mockingly referring to outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor” — and revisited the topic while signing a memorandum ordering reciprocal tariffs on countries around the world.

“Look, the people would pay much less tax than they’re paying right now, they’d have perfect military protection,” the president said of the prospect of Canadian annexation.

“You have Russian ships, you have China ships, you have Chinese ships. You have lot of ships out there,” he added. “People are in danger. This is a different world today. It’s a different world, but they need our protection.”

Trump had threatened earlier this month to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian exports to the US, but agreed to stall the charges for 30 days after Trudeau promised to bolster security at the northern border to stop illegal drugs and migration.

The president still bemoaned the current tariff relationship Thursday, saying, “Canada has been very bad to us on trade, but now Canada is going to have to start paying up.”

“Why would we pay $200 billion a year in subsidies to Canada when [they’re] not a state?” Trump asked.

“You do that for a state, but you don’t do that for somebody else’s country. So I think Canada is going to be a very serious contender to be our 51st state.”

Trump’s talk of Canadian statehood has boosted Trudeau’s Liberal Party in polls ahead of the country’s federal election, which must be held on or before Oct. 20 of this year.