US President-elect Donald Trump joked during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last Friday that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States.
This was stated by sources at Fox News.
Thus, last Friday Trudeau flew to Donald Trump's villa in Florida - Mar-a-Lago - without warning after Trump threatened to impose significant tariffs on Canadian goods. In particular, Trump threatens to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico due to their alleged inability to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and illegal drugs from these countries into the United States.
According to two people at the table who heard the discussion, Trump was very direct when it came to what he wants from his northern counterpart. Trump reportedly told Trudeau that Canada had broken the U.S. border, allowing large amounts of drugs and people, including illegal immigrants from more than 70 different countries, through.
Sources say Trump perked up when he was asked about the U.S. trade deficit with Canada, which he estimated at more than USD 100 billion.
He told the Prime Minister that if Canada could not resolve its border and trade deficit issues, he would impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods on his first day back in office.
Trudeau reportedly told Trump that he could not impose tariffs because it would completely kill the Canadian economy. Trump reportedly replied, "So your country can't survive unless it's robbing the U.S. of USD 100 billion?"
After that, according to the publication’s sources, Trump suggested to Trudeau that Canada become the 51st state, which caused nervous laughter from the Prime Minister and others present. But he went on to tell Trudeau that Prime Minister was a better title, although he could be the governor of the 51st state.
He told Trudeau that if he couldn’t handle his list of demands without robbing the U.S. on trade, maybe Canada should really become a state or two, and Trudeau could become the governor.
Although sources say the exchange of views caused a lot of laughter, Trump made it clear that he expects changes by January 20.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, in the meantime, newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump said that his first foreign visit after winning the election would be to France. In particular, he will visit the restored Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Who we are: About us, Contacts. How we write news and our principles: Editorial code. We did our best. If you found this valuable – please support us.
To request a correction, please send an email.