Donald Trump Declares Canada Will ‘Cease to Exist’ Without U.S. Support, Suggests It Should Become the 51st State

President Donald Trump escalated tensions with Canada by claiming the country would "cease to exist as a viable nation" without financial support from the United States. His remarks came in response to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s defiant stance on tariffs.

Trump initiated a trade war by imposing steep tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, prompting retaliatory measures from both countries.

After Trudeau vowed not to back down, Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday morning, suggesting that Canada should become "our cherished 51st state."

"We pay hundreds of billions of dollars to SUBSIDIZE Canada. Why? There is no reason," Trump wrote. "We don't need anything they have. We have unlimited Energy, should make our own cars, and have more lumber than we can ever use."

He continued, "Without this massive subsidy, Canada ceases to exist as a viable Country. Harsh but true!" He concluded with, "Therefore, Canada should become our Cherished 51st State. Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada – AND NO TARIFFS!"

The White House’s announcement of new tariffs on Saturday triggered immediate responses from Canada and Mexico. Trudeau announced a 25% tariff on American imports worth $106.6 billion, covering products like beer, wine, household appliances, and sporting goods.

He declared that his government would stand firm against Trump’s measures but acknowledged that they would have consequences on both sides of the border.

"We don’t want to be here. We didn’t ask for this," Trudeau said, as reported by Express US. "The actions taken by the White House split us apart instead of bringing us together."

In a call for national solidarity, he encouraged Canadians to prioritize domestic goods over American imports. "Choose Canadian products and services rather than American ones," he urged.

Trudeau also announced that Canada’s retaliatory tariffs would take effect the same day as the U.S. tariffs, ensuring a direct response to Trump’s economic policies.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also took action, instructing her economic minister to enforce both tariff and non-tariff barriers to protect Mexico’s interests.

She strongly rejected the White House’s claims that the Mexican government collaborates with criminal organizations. "We categorically reject the White House’s slander that the Mexican government has alliances with criminal organizations as well as any intention of meddling in our territory," Sheinbaum stated.

She also criticized U.S. policies, suggesting that the American government should focus on internal drug enforcement rather than blaming other nations.

"If the United States government and its agencies wanted to address the serious fentanyl consumption in their country, they could fight the sale of drugs on the streets of their major cities, which they don’t do, and the laundering of money that this illegal activity generates that has done so much harm to its population," she added.

The trade war escalated on Saturday when Trump imposed tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, hitting them with a 25% levy. Chinese goods were subjected to an additional 10% tax, while Canadian energy products faced a reduced 10% tariff.

The White House justified these measures as necessary steps to address illegal immigration and drug trafficking—two issues that Trump has vowed to combat.

Trump warned that his tariff strategy could escalate further if other countries retaliated with their own economic measures.

In an official statement on X (formerly Twitter), the White House defended the tariffs, saying, "The tariff announcement is necessary to hold China, Mexico, and Canada accountable for their promises to halt the flood of poisonous drugs into the United States."

Trump reinforced his position on Truth Social, stating, "This was done through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) because of the major threat of illegal aliens and deadly drugs killing our Citizens, including fentanyl."

With economic tensions at a peak, global leaders and financial analysts are closely watching how this trade war will unfold. While Trump insists that his aggressive trade policies will protect American interests, Canada and Mexico remain resolute in their responses.

The economic consequences of these tariffs could be far-reaching, potentially disrupting markets and supply chains across North America.

The coming weeks will determine whether Trump’s latest trade policies will achieve their intended goals or lead to further economic instability. For now, both sides remain firm in their positions, with neither showing signs of backing down.