Donald Trump has made his most significant push yet for the U.S. to annex Canada, offering a 60 percent tax cut to Canadians if they agree to join the United States as its 51st state. The president-elect recently suggested territorial expansions into Canada, Greenland, and Panama, fueling speculation about his plans for U.S. growth.
On Christmas Day, Trump escalated his rhetoric against the governments of both Canada and Panama, posting a series of comments on Truth Social. He criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling him “Governor” and emphasizing the tax benefits Canada could receive by joining the U.S.
“Happy Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal, always making sure that the United States invests billions in ‘repair’ money, but has absolutely no say about anything,” Trump wrote. He then addressed Trudeau directly, stating, “To Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, whose Citizens’ Taxes are far too high, but if Canada became our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other country anywhere in the world.”
Trump’s comments come amid ongoing tensions with Canada over trade policies. Recently, Trudeau downplayed Trump’s remarks about annexing Canada, calling them a joke. However, the two leaders met at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida to discuss a potential 25 percent tariff on all Canadian goods.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who attended the Mar-a-Lago dinner, dismissed Trump’s comments, stating, “The president was telling jokes. It was not a serious comment.”
Trump has also been vocal about acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, for national security reasons. He previously attempted to purchase the island during his first term, but the Danish government rejected the offer, stating the island was “open for business, not for sale.” On Sunday, Trump reiterated his interest in Greenland, posting on Truth Social that U.S. control of the island was “an absolute necessity” for national security.
Trump’s recent remarks about Panama also stoked controversy, as he suggested that the U.S. could regain control of the Panama Canal to address rising shipping costs. Panama President José Raúl Mulino firmly rejected the suggestion, stating in a video that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to.” Trump, however, responded on social media, saying, “We’ll see about that!”
Source: Dailymail.co.uk
