President-elect Donald Trump reportedly told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that if Canada could not handle his proposed tariffs, it might as well become the 51st U.S. state, according to sources speaking to Fox News.
The two leaders met at Mar-a-Lago after Trudeau flew there unannounced, following Trump’s threat to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products. The meeting, which reportedly involved a casual dinner of crab cocktails and oysters, was dominated by serious discussions about tariffs, border security, and trade deficits.
Trump, while cordial, was reportedly very direct with Trudeau regarding his concerns. According to two people who were present at the table, Trump criticized Canada’s border security efforts and expressed frustration over what he claimed to be a U.S. trade deficit of over $100 million with Canada.
“If you can’t survive a more balanced flow of trade with the U.S., maybe you should become the 51st state,” Trump said, causing Trudeau and others at the table to laugh nervously, sources told Fox News.
Trump has long been fixated on trade deficits with other nations, though economists have pointed out that trade deficits aren’t inherently negative. Despite this, Trump has vowed to impose a 25 percent tariff on all goods coming from Mexico and Canada, including oil, and even harsher tariffs on China.
Experts have also expressed concerns that Trump does not fully understand how tariffs work. He has suggested that foreign nations will pay the U.S. for the privilege of sending goods to America, though most economists agree that American consumers would ultimately bear the cost of these tariffs.
The exchange with Trudeau highlights Trump’s combative approach to international trade and his willingness to make bold statements, even if they raise eyebrows or prompt nervous laughter from world leaders.