Trump’s Push to Annex Canada Escalates Tensions With Key Ally

President Trump’s repeated calls for Canada to become the 51st U.S. state have strained U.S.-Canada relations, prompting strong rebukes from Canadian leaders and raising concerns at the G7 summit.

President Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, citing economic arguments and describing the U.S.-Canada border as an 'artificial line.'
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and other officials have strongly rejected the annexation rhetoric, emphasizing Canada’s sovereignty and vowing to resist economic coercion.
The escalating trade war between the two nations has strained relations, with Trump imposing tariffs on Canadian goods and Canada responding with retaliatory measures.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Trump’s comments as an economic argument but clarified that annexation was not discussed during the G7 summit in Quebec.
Trump’s rhetoric has drawn criticism domestically and internationally, with concerns about its impact on U.S.-Canada cooperation and broader foreign policy priorities.