Ottawa (Canada), Jan 8: In a dramatic turn of events, former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has spoken out against Donald Trump's controversial proposal to merge Canada with the United States, declaring unequivocally, “Not a chance.” This marks the first time Trudeau has taken a firm public stance against Trump’s idea of making Canada the 51st U.S. state.

Trudeau’s Defiant Statement

Following his resignation as Prime Minister, Trudeau posted on X (formerly Twitter):

“There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States. Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other’s largest trading and security partners.”

Trudeau’s resignation was reportedly triggered by internal criticism within his Cabinet over his initial subdued response to Trump’s merger proposal.

 

Trump’s Bold Threats

Donald Trump, speaking from Mar-a-Lago, hinted at using “economic force” to pressure Canada into a merger. When asked if military intervention was on the table, Trump dismissed it, stating, “No, economic force. Canada and the United States together—that would really be something.”

Trump also threatened a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, a move Trudeau warned could devastate the Canadian economy.

The Map Wars

In a recent statement, Trump displayed a distorted map showing the U.S. integrated with Canada, captioned, “Oh Canada!” In response, Canada’s Liberal Party posted a world map highlighting the U.S. and Canada as separate nations, with the caption, “For anyone who may be confused,” in a veiled jab at Trump.

A Strained Relationship

Trump has long targeted Canada, mocking Trudeau as the “Governor of Canada” and frequently criticizing the country’s trade surplus with the U.S.

Despite these tensions, Trudeau’s firm rejection of the merger reflects a renewed effort to protect Canada’s sovereignty and identity.

The saga underscores the strained dynamics between the two nations, with Trudeau’s defiance marking a pivotal moment in Canada-U.S. relations.