PM Trudeau Firmly Rejects Canadian Ideas To Become A State Of The United States

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. (Wikimedia Commons/European Parliament)

JAKARTA - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday rejected US President-elect Donald Trump's proposal that may use "economic power" to make Canada the 51st US state.

"There is no slightest chance Canada will be part of the United States," he said in an upload on X.

"Workers and communities in our two countries benefit because they become trade and security partners with one another," he said.

Earlier, Trump renewed his bid to make Canada the 51st state, hours after PM Trudeau announced plans to resign as Leader of the Liberal Party as well as Canadian PM.

"Many people in Canada are happy to be the 51st State. The United States can no longer bear the massive trade and subsidy deficit that Canada needs to survive. Justin Trudeau knows this, and resigns," Trump wrote on Truth Social social media.

If Canada joins the US, there will be no tariffs, taxes will drop drastically, and they will be truly safe from the threat of Russian and Chinese ships that continue to surround them. Together, how great is this country!!!" continued Trump.

Trump, who later made a statement at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, was asked if he was considering using military force to acquire Canada.

"No, economic power," he replied.

"Because Canada and the United States, that would mean a lot," he explained.

Trump, who has long complained about Canada's trade surplus with the US, previously told reporters it was a fabricated line.

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

Earlier on Tuesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Trump's comments "showed a lack of understanding of what made Canada a strong country. We will never give up in the face of threats."

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