‘Governor Justin Trudeau’: Trump revists ‘Canada should become 51st state of US’ joke – Times of India

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday called Canadian PM Justin Trudeau “governor of the great state of Canada.”
“It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada. I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all,” said Trump in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.

Earlier, Trump suggested Trudeau that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States of America, if Trump’s proposed 25 per cent tariff kills the Canadian economy, according to Fox News. Trudeau and other officials nervously laughed at Trump’s joke when the Canadian PM visited Mar-a-Lago, the President-elect’s Florida resort.
Trudeau made an unscheduled visit after Trump threatened substantial tariffs on Canadian products. The proposed 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico were linked to their alleged failure to control illegal immigration and drug trafficking into the United States.
Additionally, Trump on Sunday suggested that if the US is subsidising its two neighbours Canada and Mexico to the tune of $ 100 billion and $ 300 billion, respectively then these nations should consider becoming part of America.
“We’re subsidising Canada to the tune of over $ 100 billion a year. We’re subsidising Mexico for almost $ 300 billion. We shouldn’t be subsidising. Why are we subsidising these countries? If we’re going to subsidise them, let them become a state (of the US),” said Trump in his first Sunday talk show appearance since winning the November 5 presidential elections.
Meanwhile, the Canadian PM expressed concern on Monday about the potential impact of tariffs from Canada on American consumers, stating they would face increased living costs.
“Trump got elected on a commitment to make life better and more affordable for Americans, and I think people south of the border are beginning to wake up to the real reality that tariffs on everything from Canada would make life a lot more expensive,” Trudeau said.
“Let’s not kid ourselves in any way, shape or form, 25% tariffs on everything going to the United States would be devastating for the Canadian economy. It would also, however, mean real hardship for Americans as well. Americans import 65% of their crude oil from Canada, significant amounts of electricity. Just about all the natural gas exported from Canada goes to the United States. They rely on us for steel and aluminum. They rely on us for a range of agriculture imports. All of those things would get more expensive,” he added.