U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has again commented on Canada’s sovereignty, saying he’s eager for another meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he referred to as a state “governor.”
The remark is an apparent reference to Trump’s recent quip that Canada could become the 51st U.S. state, and Trudeau the governor.
“It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada,” Trump said in a Dec. 10 post on his Truth Social platform.
Trump added he’s looking forward to seeing the “Governor” again soon to continue their in-depth discussion about tariffs and trade. “The results of which will be truly spectacular for all!” added the incoming U.S. president.
The post calling Trudeau a “governor” was published some hours after the prime minister spoke at a Halifax Chamber of Commerce event where he said Canada would retaliate against the 25 percent tariffs threatened by Trump.
The president-elect said on Nov. 25 he would impose the tariffs on Canada and Mexico if they don’t tighten their border security.
Trudeau also spoke during his Halifax address about unspecified countries, suggesting they may regret who they elected.
“I think there’s a number of folks in different countries, and I won’t point out any particular one, where folks are going to be wondering about the choice they maybe made in elections,” he said.
“Let’s not be that kind of country in Canada, let’s be deliberate about the choices we make if we want to stop fighting climate change, if we want to re-legalize assault style weapons, if we want to put back into question women’s rights.”
Trump’s social media post calling Trudeau a governor was the latest in a series of communications from Trump about Canada’s status and trade relationship with the United States.
In a Dec. 8 interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Trump said the U.S. should stop “subsidizing” Canada, in a possible reference to the United States’ negative trade balance.
“If we’re going to subsidize them, let them become a state [of the U.S.],” he said.
Prior to those remarks, Trump shared an image on Truth Social on Dec. 3 of what appears to be an AI-generated image of himself standing beside a Canadian flag atop a mountain accompanied by the caption “Oh Canada!”
Trudeau travelled to Florida to meet with Trump at his private Mar-a-Lago club on Nov. 29 to discuss trade and border security. This is when Trump reportedly first joked about Trudeau becoming the governor of a 51st U.S. state if the Canadian economy cannot survive despite its trade surplus with the United States.
Liberal ministers were asked by reporters on Dec. 10 to comment on what Trump’s most recent comment.
“I am so proud of our country. I am so proud of the true north, strong and free,” said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland during a press conference in Ottawa. “I also want to say to Canadians that our government is absolutely determined to defend the national interest.”
Freeland would not comment on whether she takes Trump seriously on comments of making Canada a U.S. state. “That is a question really for the president-elect,” she said.
Before the weekly cabinet meeting, Treasury Board President Anita Anand said “we have to continue to remember that Canada is a sovereign country.” Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Truth Social shouldn’t be used as a source for public policy.
Health Minister Mark Holland said “we can’t react to everything, we need to focus on being mature as a country and taking responsibility for the things for which we have control.”