US Vice President JD Vance calls Canada state, then apologises

US Vice President JD Vance has referred to Canada as a US state during a public appearance in Maine before immediately apologising and describing the remark as a Freudian slip.

While speaking to supporters at an event in Brewer, Maine he said: “Canada is a state — sorry, Freudian slip. That was actually an accident,” Caliber.Az reports.

His remarks drew laughter from the crowd.

US President Donald Trump’s desire to turn Canada into another US state has caused tensions between the two countries.

However, Trump earlier stated that he would “no longer” treat Canada like a US state in trade and other matters.

He argued that Canada relies heavily on the US market, while claiming Washington does not need Canada.

The US president threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, automotive parts and steel to 50% from January 1, 2027, escalating the tensions.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Canada of imposing excessively high tariffs on US farmers and agricultural products, noting this had contributed to what he described as a $60 billion trade deficit between the two countries.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov