Trump says subsidies to Canada are “pointless” and hints that Canada wants to join the US
President-elect Trump Early Wednesday, he continued his trolling of Canada, criticizing U.S. subsidies to its northern neighbor and again claiming that Canadians supposedly want to become the 51st U.S. state.
In a post on his social media Trump wrote: “No one can answer why we subsidize Canada over $100,000,000 a year?”
“That makes no sense! Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st country. “You would save massively on taxes and military protection,” Trump wrote.
The post comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Canada over the new president’s plans to introduce a 25% penalty. Tariffs on Canada for failing to address trade and immigration issues.
Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during a campaign rally at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on October 15, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago to discuss the issue. Sources said Trump became animated when discussing the U.S. trade deficit with Canada, which he estimated at more than $100 billion.
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Trump reportedly suggested to Trudeau that if tariffs on Canada would destroy Canada’s economy, perhaps Canada should do so 51st US state.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a fireside chat with the Halifax Chamber of Commerce in Halifax on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (Riley Smith/The Canadian Press via AP)
Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on Canadian imports, meanwhile, unsettled Canada, which is heavily integrated into the U.S. economy.
About 60% of US crude oil imports come from Canada, and 85% of US electricity imports also come from Canada.
A Canadian Customs and Fisheries officer watches over the U.S.-Canada border between Blaine, Washington and White Rock, British Columbia.
Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the United States and has 34 critical minerals and metals sought by the Pentagon.
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Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian and $2.7 billion worth of goods and services cross the border every day. Canada is the top export destination for 36 US states.
Greg Wehner of Fox News Digital and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
