Trump reacts to Trudeau’s resignation: ‘Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st country’
President-elect Trump on Monday repeated his suggestion that Canada should become America’s 51st state, just hours after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his plans to resign.
“Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st country. The United States can no longer tolerate the massive trade deficits and subsidies that Canada needs to survive. Justin Trudeau knew this and resigned,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“If Canada merged with the USA, there would be no tariffs, taxes would be much lower, and they would be COMPLETELY SAFE from the threat of Russian and Chinese ships constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great nation it would be!!!” he added.
sources told Fox News in December that Trump personally pitched the merger idea to Trudeau when the two met at Mar-a-Lago in late November.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with President-elect Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Florida in late November to discuss topics including the economy, illegal immigration and proposed 25% tariffs. (Justin Trudeau X)
Trudeau flew unannounced to Trump’s residence in Florida that month after the president-elect threatened to impose heavy tariffs on Canadian products. Trump warns of 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico over failure of both countries to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs from those countries into the US
“We talked about many important topics that will require both countries to work together to solve, such as the fentanyl and drug crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of illegal immigration, fair trade agreements that do not harm American workers, and the huge trade deficit the US has with Canada “, Trump wrote at the time on Truth Social.
Trudeau announced earlier this morning that he will resign as Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to the media outside Rideau Cottage on Monday, Jan. 6, in Ottawa. (AP/Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
“I intend to resign as the leader of the party, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a vigorous competitive process across the country,” Trudeau said in an address Monday morning. “Last night I asked the leader of the Liberal Party to start that process. This country deserves the right choice at the next election and it became clear to me that if I have to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in the lead at that election.”
Trudeau, who has led Canada for nearly a decade, has been struggling for months with a significant drop in his approval rating due to growing frustration over issues such as the skyrocketing cost of living and rising inflation.
US President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on October 15, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canada. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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The long-serving prime minister has seen calls for his resignation – from at least seven Liberal members of parliament as well as opposition party leaders – rise following the sudden departure of his finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, who wrote a scathing resignation letter citing Trudeau’s handling of certain economic policies as well as threats directed by Trump.
Fox News’ Michael Dorgan, Caitlin McFall and Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
