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Trump and his boutade, tries again with Canada: ‘Become our 51st state’

Between jokes, economic nationalism and reality show tones, Trump is causing discussion with his ‘bizarre’ proposals. The US president revives the provocative idea: after imposing new tariffs on Ottawa, he proposes to annex it to the US

Donald Trump never misses an opportunity to make waves. A proposal he had ventilated just before and shortly after re-entering the White House is back in the news again by targeting Canada. After raising tariffs of 25% and 10% on Canadian imports, the first US citizen has relaunched the proposal: ‘Become the 51st US state’.

The president justified his idea with the usual nationalist rhetoric, stating that the United States spends ‘hundreds of billions of dollars to support Canada’, a less than accurate reference to the trade deficit between the two countries. And, as if that were not enough, he added: ‘Without this massive support, Canada would not exist.

According to him, annexation would be a golden deal for Canadians: ‘They would have much lower taxes, far better military protection, and no tariffs,’ he assured in his classic peremptory tone.

Trump’s exit has triggered a wave of reactions, between those who see it as a mere boutade and those who fear that the president is serious. Certainly, his approach to international relations continues to oscillate between economic pragmatism and a taste for provocation. And who knows whether to Canadians the idea of being the 51st state sounds more like an offer or a threat.

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