Canada slams Trump’s repeated 51st state suggestion: "The joke is over"

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's remarks suggesting that Canada should become the 51st state are no longer seen as a joke, according to Canada’s Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc.

Speaking on January 8, LeBlanc stated that Trump’s comments were now intended to undermine Canada, America’s closest ally, Caliber.Az reports via U.S. media.

LeBlanc, who is responsible for managing U.S.-Canada relations, recalled that Trump had smiled when he first made the remark during a dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago in late November. However, LeBlanc emphasized that the tone had shifted since then, saying, "The joke is over."

“It’s a way for him, I think, to sow confusion, to agitate people, to create chaos knowing this will never happen,” LeBlanc added, calling Trump’s rhetoric “counterproductive.”

Trump has continued to float the idea that Canada could join the United States as the 51st state, with his latest remarks made on January 7. Despite joking that he would not use military force to invade Canada, Trump claimed he would instead use “economic force” to achieve this goal. He framed the U.S. trade deficit with Canada—an oil-rich nation—as a subsidy, a statement that was widely criticized as erroneous.

“It’s becoming very counterproductive,” LeBlanc said, referring to Trump’s rhetoric about Canada.

Amid these tensions, LeBlanc has been engaged in discussions with officials from Trump’s incoming administration about enhancing border security. This initiative is part of efforts to avoid a potential 25% tariff that Trump has threatened to impose on all Canadian products.

Economic ties between the US and Canada

The U.S. imports approximately 60% of its crude oil from Canada, with Alberta alone supplying 4.3 million barrels per day. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. consumes around 20 million barrels of oil daily, while domestic production stands at about 13.2 million barrels per day. This makes Canada a crucial partner in meeting nearly a quarter of U.S. oil consumption.

Additionally, Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states, with nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services crossing the border daily. Canada also stands as the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminium, and uranium to the U.S. Furthermore, the Pentagon has expressed interest in Canada’s 34 critical minerals and metals, which are vital to national security, resulting in significant U.S. investments.

By Khagan Isayev