Trump’s Tough Talk Unites Canada Against the US
The president’s “51st state” jokes may be a negotiating tactic — but right now, the plan is backfiring.
Anthony Constantini
March 15, 2025
_WHAT’S HAPPENING_
President Donald Trump came back into office promising to use protectionist policy — tariffs — to reshore American industry and fix what he saw as unfair global trade practices. On the campaign trail, he had talked about using tariffs on adversaries, like China, and on allies, like Canada.
Starting out as benign, Trumpian jokes about Canada becoming the “51st state” and “Governor Trudeau,” the president’s recent actions have begun to reveal a much more serious intent to absorb Canada into the United States. In response, the Canadians are uniting against Trump and the US.