Ontario Premier Doug Ford made a counteroffer to buy two U.S. states in response to President Trump saying Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.
Ford said Canada should buy Alaska and Minnesota.
“You know something, to the president I’ll make him a counteroffer; How about if we buy Alaska and throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time?” Ford said.
“He may be joking, but under my watch, that will never, ever happen,” he added.
WATCH:
Doug Ford says neither Canada nor Ontario will never be an American state.
Shows ridiculousness of Trump’s comments by saying we should buy Alaska and Minnesota.— Brian Lilley (@brianlilley) January 6, 2025
Per CBS News:
Minnesota shares nearly a 550-mile border with Canada, with about 320 miles shared with Ontario.
ADVERTISEMENTFord went on to say Trump is “joking,” and a merger between the countries — which share the world’s longest border — is “not realistic.”
Trump said in November that his tariff plan, which also includes a 10% levy on all goods from China, was created in part to stop the flow of illegal immigration and drugs into the U.S.
In his first term, Trump put tariffs on Canada’s aluminum and steel exports, with Canada countering by adding duties on several U.S. products.
In a CNN interview on Monday night, Ford downplayed the seriousness of his “counteroffer” comment but warned Trump not to rattle his country’s relationship with its largest trading partner.
“Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned,” President Trump said.
“If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!” he added.
( @realDonaldTrump – Truth Social Post )
( Donald J. Trump – Jan 06, 2025, 12:52 PM ET )Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this,… pic.twitter.com/aQXEOFgmIb
— Donald J. Trump
TRUTH POSTS (@TruthTrumpPosts) January 6, 2025
Trump’s comments followed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing his resignation.
CTV News reports:
Canadian officials, while taking the tariff threat seriously, have mostly shrugged off Trump’s insults.
Ford, for his part, has mostly referred to Trump as having a sense of humour and liking to joke when asked about the comments.
But on Monday he apparently felt enough was enough.
“It’s not realistic,” he said when asked about the threat to annex Canada.
“I know he (Trump) likes making these comments and he likes joking around. I take that seriously. He may be joking, but under my watch, that will never, ever happen.”
Speaking on CNN, Ford reiterated his comments about Trump’s “sense of humour” and his thoughts on the suggestion not being “realistic.”
“We’re a sovereign country. We’re proud Canadians, just like Americans are proud. What I want to do is make sure that we build a fortress Am-Can, making sure that we’re the strongest and the richest, and the most prosperous two countries in the entire world,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT“We have a tremendous amount to offer the United States as we have over the years, no matter if it’s our energy or our critical minerals. And that’s what we want to do, we want to make sure we’re stronger together...”
Ford’s earlier comments on the threat to deeply increase tariffs on goods from Canada came as he reacted to Trudeau’s announcement Monday that he will step down as prime minister after a Liberal leadership race is held to replace him.
Ford said that despite the political turmoil, he expects federal officials to remain focused on the tariff threat.
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.
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