The president-elect reiterated his comments that Canada should become the “51st state” following the resignation of Canadian leader Justin Trudeau, which marks the end of his nine-year term in power.
President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his seemingly outlandish suggestions that the United States should take control of Canada and Greece, hours after longtime prime minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation.
Mr. Trudeau resigned on Monday, citing internal battles and an unproductive government. “This country deserves a real choice”the former leader said, ending nearly a decade in power.
In response, Mr. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that if Canada were to merge with the United States, “there would be no customs duties, taxes would drop significantly and they would be TOTALLY SAFE from the threat of Russian and Chinese ships constantly surrounding them.”
Trump added: “the United States can no longer support the huge trade deficits and subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this and resigned.”
This is not the first time Mr. Trump has called on Canada to join the United States. In December, he claimed that “many” Canadians wanted the two countries to merge, while a Léger poll indicates that this figure is around 13%.
Mr. Trudeau announced he would resign both as prime minister and as leader of the ruling Liberal party, which will mount a new leadership race to replace him.
Critics have suggested the timing of his resignation was poor, as it comes weeks before Mr Trump’s inauguration as US president. Mr. Trump threatened to impose hefty 25% tariffs on Canadian goods on his first day in office.
“This resignation means that Mr. Trudeau can no longer do much to ward off Mr. Trump’s tariff threat”David MacNaughton, former Canadian ambassador to the United States, told CBC News on Monday.
Mr. MacNaughton said Mr. Trudeau should have acted several months ago so Canada could prepare for Mr. Trump’s threats of tariffs, which economists say would significantly harm the Canadian economy if they were imposed.
Making Greenland Great Again
Mr. Trump also reiterated his claim that the United States would take control of Greenland in a message released Monday evening.
“My son, Don Jr, and various representatives will be on site to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sites”declared the president-elect.
“Greenland is an incredible place, and its people will benefit enormously if and when it becomes part of our nation”wrote Mr. Trump, as his son, Donald Trump Jr, prepares to visit Greenland.
Danish broadcaster DR quoted Foreign Ministry head Mininnguaq Kleist as saying Donald Trump Jr’s visit would be personal and there was no reason for him to meet the Greenland government.
The North Atlantic island was a Danish colony until it became an autonomous territory of Denmark in 1979. In January, its prime minister, Mute Egede, reiterated calls for a referendum on the independence of the island.
Mute Egede has yet to comment on Mr. Trump’s recent statements, but he said in December that Greenland was not “not for sale and never will be”.
ADVERTISEMENTMr. Trump has made statements on Greenland in the past. When he announced his choice for United States Ambassador to Denmark, he wrote: “For reasons of national security and global freedom, the United States of America believes that ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”
During his first term, he canceled a planned trip to Denmark in August 2019 after the Danish prime minister rejected the idea of the United States taking control of the island. Aaja Chemnitz, a member of Greenland’s parliament, wrote on Facebook that the people of Greenland should say no to the president-elect’s taunts.
“Don’t let Trump control the Greenland election campaign and leave the people as losers in this game”wrote Ms. Chemnitz, adding that it was “unbelievable that some people can be so naive to think that happiness comes from becoming American citizens.”
