OTTAWA — U.S. President Donald Trump suggests it is “very improbable” that his country would resort to using military power to incorporate Canada, although he insists he will keep advocating for making Canada the 51st state.
During an extensive interview on NBC’s “Meet The Press” that was broadcasted on Sunday, Trump stated that he would not dismiss the possibility of using military action against Greenland, though he did not anticipate such a scenario unfolding with Canada.
“I believe we will never reach that stage,” Trump stated.
There might be developments concerning Greenland. To be frank, we require that for both our country’s safety and global stability.
I believe it’s very improbable… It doesn’t seem likely for Canada. To be truthful, I can’t picture it happening.
Trump’s remarks come as Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to have his first face-to-face meeting with the president this week in Washington, in which the countries’ trade war will be the top topic of conversation.
On Sunday, Trump referred to Carney as “a very nice person” and mentioned that he congratulated the prime minister on winning the election during their conversation the previous week.
“There isn’t a clear majority or anything like that, which will likely make things somewhat challenging for him to manage,” Trump stated.
However, he still achieved a win and in my opinion, he is a really pleasant person.
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade, known as USMCA, was finalized under President Donald Trump’s initial term. During this period, Trump referred to it as the greatest deal ever made, with Canadian representatives hailing it as a significant win for their country.
CUSMA is set for review next year, however, following Trump’s comeback to the White House, it swiftly became apparent that the president planned to shake up the North American trade agreement.
Early on, both Canada and Mexico faced tariffs imposed by the President, who connected these measures to the influx of fentanyl through their borders. According to U.S. government statistics, only a small amount of fentanyl is seized at the U.S.-Canada border. Additionally, both nations experienced levies from Trump’s duties on steel, aluminum, and automobiles.
On Friday, when addressing reporters in Ottawa, Carney stated his intention to secure the most favorable agreement for Canada.
When asked by ” Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker if he would discuss with Carney the possibility of making Puerto Rico the 51st state, Trump stated that he will always be open to talking about it.
“You know why? We subsidize Canada to the tune of $200 billion a year,” Trump said.
Actually, the United States had a trade deficit of $63.3 billion with Canada in 2024, as reported by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. It’s important to remember that a trade deficit does not equate to a subsidy.
In 2024, the United States imported $412.7 billion worth of goods from Canada, with the majority consisting of energy and mineral products.
“They have no need for our vehicles, they require neither our timber nor our power sources; essentially, they want nothing from us. Our trade dealings with them are minimal. It’s predominantly they who conduct most of their commerce with us,” stated Trump.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that in 2024, the United States imported larger quantities of goods from both Mexico and China compared to imports from Canada.
Canada accounted for 12.6 percent of total U.S. imports. Conversely, 75.9 percent of Canada’s exports were sent to the United States.
“Car ownership isn’t necessary for us; actually, we prefer not having their vehicles. Their form of energy isn’t required either; we wouldn’t even accept their type of power. After all, we possess an abundance compared to them,” stated Trump.
They can keep their timber; we’ve got plenty of our own. The only thing stopping them is those so-called environmental extremists. Honestly, what they offer isn’t necessary for us.
— Using reports from Kelly Geraldine Malone in Washington
The report from The Canadian Press was initially released on May 4, 2025.
Nick Murray, The Canadian Press
