U.S. President Donald Trump is doubling down on threats to make Canada the 51st state and says he’ll “always talk about that” as Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares for a crucial White House meeting and insists Canadian sovereignty is not up for discussion.
“You don’t even realize what a beautiful country it would be. It would be great,” Trump told host Kristen Welker during an interview on NBC’s Meet The Press which aired Sunday.
“I’ll always talk about that. You know why? We subsidize Canada to the tune of $200 billion a year,” Trump added, reiterating his false claim over the U.S. trade deficit with Canada.
When asked if he’d consider using military force to annex Canada, Trump said he thinks “we’re not gonna ever get to that point” but “something could happen with Greenland” — the autonomous Danish territory which he’s also mentioned absorbing.
The U.S. president’s renewed threats come as Carney prepares to meet him on Tuesday for a comprehensive set of discussions on tariffs and the broader Canada-U.S. relationship.
Carney to meet Trump at White House on Tuesday
On Friday, at his first press conference since becoming prime minister, Carney said he’s going to the White House “with the expectation of constructive — difficult, but constructive discussions.”
But Carney has long maintained he would only speak with Trump once the U.S. president shows respect for Canada. The prime minister was pressed by reporters on this issue during his press conference.
“It’s always important to distinguish want from reality,” Carney said in response, adding that Canadians have clearly stated that Canada will never join the U.S.
“There’ll be zigs and zags, ups and downs, but as I said in my remarks I will fight for the best deal for Canada and only accept the best deal for Canada.”
Trump told Welker that he congratulated Carney for his election win. The U.S. president also noted Carney’s minority government will “make things a little bit difficult for him to run. But he nevertheless had a victory and he’s a nice man, I’d think.”
Everett Eissenstat, who served as deputy director of Trump’s National Economic Council during his first term, says the upcoming meeting is “certainly a good start” but “it’s unlikely that the relationship will be sorted out within a single meeting.”
Eissenstat’s advice to Carney is pragmatism over emotions. He said in an interview on Rosemary Barton Live there’s “an opportunity to open the aperture beyond just the traditional trade discussion that I think could be very, very fruitful.”
What to expect when Carney goes to Washington?
“The president wants to achieve a different type of relationship,” Eissenstat told host Rosemary Barton on Sunday. “It’s obvious to me in hearing some of the comments from the now- prime minister that he does as well.”
There are a lot of tariffs on the table, Eissenstat said. The U.S. has imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, non-U.S. content of Canadian-made passenger vehicles and goods that aren’t compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
There’s also 10 per cent tariffs on energy products in CUSMA and potash products not covered by CUSMA. Canada has retaliated with tariffs on more than $60-billion worth of U.S. goods and on vehicles imported from the U.S. that are not CUSMA-compliant.
Eissenstat said getting rid of those tariffs could be contingent on Canada addressing other irritants Trump has raised, like defence spending.
And then there’s the 51st state threats. “I don’t conceivably see any scenario where that could actually happen, but I do understand how disturbing it is and how emotive that language can be,” Eissenstat said.
Innovation Minister and Oakville East MP-elect Anita Anand told Barton that she’s “very enthusiastic” about Carney’s upcoming meeting. She added Carney can now fulfil his election mandate to ensure “Canada’s economic sovereignty is protected.”
“My hope and our hope is that this will be the continuation of a productive conversation and a productive relationship between our two countries,” Anand said, adding that the White House meeting is the start, not the end of Canada’s dialogue with the United States over shared issues.
As Canada irons out its relationship with the United States, Carney will need to contend with a minority government that requires cooperation from other parties.
Anand said she hopes there will be more collaboration at the House of Commons and pointed to Canada’s COVID-19 response as a sign federal parties can work together to address critical issues.
“There is room for us after this election to come and to say ‘let’s work together in the best interests of our great country,'” Anand said.
