Trump Claims Canada Should Become 51st U.S. State in Super Bowl Interview/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ In a Super Bowl pregame interview, Donald Trump doubled down on his belief that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, claiming it relies too heavily on U.S. trade and military support. He also threatened new tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and backed Elon Musk’s government overhaul efforts. The remarks drew sharp criticism from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who called Trump’s ambitions “a real thing.”
Trump Suggests Canada as 51st U.S. State, Threatens Tariffs in Super Bowl Interview – Quick Look
- Annexation Talk: Trump stated he was serious about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, citing economic and military concerns.
- Trudeau Pushes Back: The Canadian Prime Minister warned that Trump’s stance reflects a real policy shift toward Canada.
- Tariff Threats: Trump criticized Canada and Mexico, saying they haven’t done enough to avoid massive U.S. tariffs.
- Military Warning: Trump suggested Canada “can’t assume” U.S. military protection anymore.
- Gulf of Mexico Renamed: While flying to the Super Bowl, Trump signed a proclamation renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
- Musk’s Expanding Role: Trump praised Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and hinted that the Department of Education and military spending are next for budget cuts.
Trump Suggests Canada as 51st U.S. State, Threatens Tariffs in Super Bowl Interview – Deep Look
Trump: “Canada Would Be Better Off as the 51st State”
During a pre-Super Bowl interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, President Donald Trump confirmed that his talk of annexing Canada is “a real thing.”
“I think Canada would be much better off being the 51st state because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada. And I’m not going to let that happen,” Trump said.
The U.S. does not subsidize Canada, as Trump implied. The trade deficit—which stood at $72 billion in 2023—is largely due to U.S. energy imports from Canada.
Trump’s remarks triggered alarm in Canada, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned business leaders that Trump’s annexation talk is not just rhetoric.
“They’re very aware of our resources, and they very much want to be able to benefit from those,” Trudeau said, according to CBC.
Trump Doubles Down Aboard Air Force One
On his way to the Super Bowl in New Orleans, Trump continued his offensive against Canada, saying:
“Canada is not viable as a country without U.S. trade. And they can’t just assume we’ll protect them militarily anymore.”
He criticized Canada’s defense spending, saying it relies too heavily on NATO protections without contributing enough to military efforts.
“Why are we protecting another country? They need to pay their fair share.”
Trump Threatens Tariffs on Canada & Mexico
Trump renewed threats to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, claiming they haven’t done enough to reduce illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
- Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Coming Monday: Trump said he would announce a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum from Canada and Mexico.
- “Reciprocal Tariffs” Later This Week: He hinted at matching foreign tariffs dollar-for-dollar in upcoming policy announcements.
Super Bowl Spectacle: Trump Becomes First Sitting President to Attend
Trump became the first U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl while in office, watching the game from a luxury suite with New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and several lawmakers.
His arrival was met with a mix of cheers and boos from the crowd.
Trump on His Attendance:
“I thought it would be a good thing for the country to have the president at the game.”
He left after halftime, but not before posing for photos with Patrick Mahomes’ family.
Gulf of Mexico Renamed “Gulf of America”
While flying to New Orleans, Trump signed a proclamation renaming the Gulf of Mexico—now calling it “The Gulf of America.”
- The move was purely symbolic, with no legal implications.
- Critics called it a publicity stunt, while Trump framed it as a patriotic rebranding.
Musk’s Expanding Role in Trump’s Government Overhaul
Trump also used the interview to praise Elon Musk’s role in government restructuring, particularly through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
- Trump on Musk: “He’s been terrific, and he’s going to save us billions.”
- Next Targets: Trump said DOGE would focus on cutting the Department of Education and the military next.
“We’re going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse,” Trump claimed.
Trump on His Viral Dancing Memes
The interview ended on a lighter note, as Trump was asked about his now-viral dancing clips at campaign rallies.
“I don’t know what it is. I try to walk off sometimes without dancing, and I can’t. I have to dance,” he joked.
What’s Next?
With Trump pushing aggressive trade policies, challenging military alliances, and suggesting Canada’s annexation, his second term continues to fuel controversy both at home and abroad.
Meanwhile, Canada is bracing for what may be a tense four years, as its closest ally openly discusses absorbing it into the U.S.
“Once they review the different projects, I hope they will see the benefits,” Trudeau said, attempting to downplay the remarks.
For now, though, Trump appears serious about reshaping U.S.-Canada relations—whether Canadians like it or not.
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