Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state is “a real thing” and is linked to the country’s rich natural resources.
Trudeau made the comments at a closed-door session of business and labor leaders in Toronto, Canada’s public broadcaster CBC reported.
“Mr. Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country and it is a real thing,” Trudeau said before a microphone cut out at the start of the closed-door meeting, according to CBC. “They’re very aware of our resources, of what we have and they very much want to be able to benefit from those,” Trudeau reportedly said.
While Trudeau’s office did not offer any further clarification on the comments, Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labor, confirmed what Trudeau said. “Yes, I can confirm that Trudeau said his assessment is that what Trump really wants is not action on fentanyl or immigration or even the trade deficit, what he really wants is to either dominate Canada or take it outright,” McGown wrote in a post on social platform X.
Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association president Flavio Volpe, who attended the closed-door session, said that Trudeau went on to say that Trump is driven because the U.S. could benefit from Canada’s critical mineral resources. “I think the prime minister did well to articulate to serious people in this country that Donald Trump is serious about coveting those resources,” said Volpe, a member of Trudeau’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations.
Canada, rich in minerals critical to the green energy transition, such as lithium, graphite, nickel, copper, and cobalt, has sought to position itself as a trusted and stable supplier to allied nations.
Last week, Trump followed through on his threat to impose a 25% tariff on most Canadian goods entering the US. However, after Prime Minister Trudeau pledged to enhance border security, Trump paused the tariffs for at least a month. Following a call with Trump, Trudeau confirmed Canada’s $1.3 billion border plan, the appointment of a “fentanyl czar,” and the designation of cartels as terrorist organizations.
Canada’s outgoing prime minister called the summit of business and labour leaders, seeking to coordinate a response to Trump’s looming threat of a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports.
Trump has continued to mock Canadian sovereignty, repeating his description of the country as the “51st state” on social media and repeatedly calling Trudeau “governor” instead of prime minister. Trump’s threats have upended the longstanding relationship between the two countries, dramatically reshaping federal politics and ushering in a new era of patriotism. With election looming in Canada, all parties are scrambling to portray themselves as patriotic and ready to defend the country’s sovereignty.