Trudeau rejects Trump's idea of Canada becoming a US state

(Patria) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday rejected the suggestion of newly elected US President Donald Trump that he could use "economic force" to make Canada the 51st state of the US, Reuters reported.

"There is no great chance in hell that Canada will become part of the United States," Trudeau said in a post on social network X.

"Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other's largest trading and security partners," he added.

When asked if he was considering using military force to take over Canada, Trump responded: "No, economic force."

"Because Canada and the United States, that would really be something," he said.

Trump, who has long complained about Canada's trade surplus with the United States, previously told reporters that the border was an "artificial line drawn."

Trump threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, which sends 75 percent of all goods and services exported south of the border.

Earlier on Tuesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Trump's comments "show a complete misunderstanding of what makes Canada a strong country..."
"We will never give in to threats."

Trudeau announced on Monday that he would step down in the coming months, succumbing to pressure from MPs concerned about the unpopularity of his Liberal Party. The next election must be held by October 20, and polls predict a victory for the official opposition Conservatives.

"Canada will never be the 51st state. Period. We are a great and independent country," said Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in a post on social network X.