Trump Doubles Down on Canada Annexation, Dismisses Military Force but Tensions Remain

In a recent interview on NBC’s "Meet the Press," former President Donald Trump reiterated his desire to see Canada become the 51st U.S. state. While he downplayed the possibility of using military force to achieve this goal, his continued pursuit of annexation has amplified the already strained relationship between the two North American nations.

During the interview, which aired on May 4th, Trump drew a distinction between Canada and Greenland, a Danish territory he has frequently suggested the U.S. should acquire. While hinting at a potential, albeit unlikely, need for military action regarding Greenland for "national and international security," Trump dismissed the idea of using force against Canada.

"Well, I think we’re not going to ever get to that point," Trump stated when asked about the possibility of military intervention in Canada. "It could happen, something could happen with Greenland. I’ll be honest, we need that for national and international security. But I think it’s highly unlikely," he continued, before adding, "I don’t see it with Canada. I just don’t see it, I have to be honest with you," with a laugh.

This statement comes amidst a period of heightened tension between the United States and Canada, largely fueled by Trump’s policies and rhetoric. Notably, Trump had previously threatened Canada with significant tariffs, further escalating the friction.

The article recalls a late November dinner in Florida where Trump reportedly suggested to then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada relinquish its sovereignty and integrate into the United States. In subsequent social media posts, Trump even referred to Trudeau as the "Governor" of the "Great State of Canada," seemingly mocking Canada’s independent status.

Trudeau, already facing political pressure and declining approval ratings, announced his resignation in early January. This was followed by Trump imposing tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, citing concerns related to fentanyl distribution and drug trafficking. The 25% tariffs sparked boycotts of American goods in Canada, contributing to Trudeau’s political downfall and paving the way for the rise of Mark Carney, a liberal Canadian Prime Minister, who secured victory in the April 28th election.

In a powerful and defiant speech, Carney directly addressed the annexation issue, vowing that the U.S. would "never own" Canada and urging Canadians to prioritize their nation’s interests. "As I have been warning for months, America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country," Carney declared. "But these are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That will never ever happen."

Carney is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on May 6th. Trump, while referring to Carney as a "nice man," confirmed the upcoming visit. "He called me, he was very nice, and I congratulated him," Trump said of his post-election conversation with Carney. "It’s a very close victory. You know, there’s no majority or anything, so that’s going to make things a little bit difficult, I think, for him to run. But he nevertheless had a victory."

Trump indicated his intention to raise the issue of annexation during the meeting. "If you look at our map, if you look at the geography – I’m a real estate guy at heart. When I look down at that without that artificial line that was drawn with a ruler many years ago – it was just an artificial line, goes straight across, what a beautiful country it would be. It would be great," Trump explained, highlighting his perspective on the geographical unity of the two nations.

The interview also touched on Trump’s perspective regarding Greenland. The title of the cited NBC article, "One way or another: Trump says U.S. will get Greenland, military force may not be needed but not ruled out," underscores Trump’s persistence in pursuing the acquisition of the Danish territory, even hinting at the possibility of military intervention, although he prefers a voluntary agreement.

Further justifying his proposal for Canada to voluntarily become a U.S. state, Trump argued that the United States has little to gain economically from Canada. "We don’t need anything. We do very little business with Canada," Trump claimed. "They do all of their business practically with us. They need us. We don’t need them."

However, this statement contradicts established economic data. Canada is, in fact, one of the United States’ top trading partners. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the United States exported $349.4 billion in goods to Canada in 2024. Furthermore, U.S. goods imports from Canada totaled $412.7 billion in the same year, highlighting the significant two-way trade relationship.

Trump has previously argued that the economic disparity between the two countries is more significant when considering defense spending. He points out that Canada is among the NATO nations that allocate a lower percentage of their GDP to military expenditures than the alliance’s agreed-upon guidelines. This argument suggests that Canada relies on the United States for defense, further reinforcing Trump’s belief that Canada would benefit from becoming a U.S. state.

Despite Trump’s seemingly dismissive attitude towards military force, the overall tone of the interview leaves lingering concerns about his long-term intentions towards Canada. His repeated insistence on annexation, coupled with his past actions and rhetoric, suggests a potential for continued pressure and instability in the U.S.-Canada relationship. The upcoming meeting between Trump and Prime Minister Carney will be closely watched as both nations navigate this complex and uncertain period. The prospect of future tariffs, trade disputes, and continued political pressure from the United States remains a significant concern for Canada.