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This time, newly elected US President Donald Trump claimed that it is Canadians who want Canada to become the 51st state of America.
Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau (Image: Reuters/File)
Amid a worsening government crisis in Canada, US President-elect Donald Trump repeated his “51st state” joke to further poke fun at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This time, he claimed that it is Canadians who want Canada to become America’s 51st state.
Trump, who previously mocked Trudeau by calling him “Governor Trudeau of the State of Canada,” made the new claim on Truth Social. “No one can answer why we subsidize Canada over $100,000,000 a year? It makes no sense! Many! Canadians want Canada to become the 51st state. They want massive savings on taxes and military security Will do. I think it’s a good idea.
At a time when the Canadian Prime Minister is facing the threat of ouster and the opposition is up in arms against him, Trump has got the perfect opportunity to wreak political havoc. But this bullying could be seen as an insult to America’s longtime ally, especially given Trump’s willingness to interfere in their domestic politics.
What is the Trudeau crisis?
Apart from the political disaster, Donald Trump’s tariff threats have left Justin Trudeau’s increasingly unpopular administration at a loss over how to manage it.
The incoming US president has threatened to impose a 25 percent tax on all products entering the US from Canada and Mexico unless the neighboring countries curb the number of migrants and drugs. The statement showed a larger-than-expected deficit for the fiscal year and a deficit of more than $1 billion for border security.
Trudeau now faces the biggest test of his political career after one of his most powerful and loyal ministers, Chrystia Freeland, resigned from cabinet on Monday (Dec. 17). His popularity has declined over the past 10 years due to concerns about inflation and immigration.
But, Trump seems to have made it even worse as he had a lot to say about Freeland’s resignation. “The great state of Canada is shocked as the Finance Minister has resigned, or been removed from office, by Governor Justin Trudeau,” he posted on Truth Social. Good for the very unhappy citizens of Canada. He will not be released!!!”
Trudeau immediately named his longtime ally and close friend Dominic LeBlanc, who had recently joined him at a dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, as public safety minister to replace Freeland. After being sworn in, LeBlanc told reporters that she and Trudeau were focused on finding common ground with Trump on border security and economic issues.