WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump reaffirmed his interest in annexing Canada during an interview broadcast Sunday but said it is “highly unlikely” that the United States would use military force to do so.
Speaking with NBC’s Meet the Press on May 4, Trump reiterated his controversial proposal for turning Canada into the 51st U.S. state. While dismissing the idea of military intervention, he indicated that geopolitical and economic factors still make the annexation appealing — albeit on a voluntary basis.
“I don’t see it with Canada,” Trump said with a laugh after being pressed by moderator Kristen Welker. “It’s highly unlikely. I think we’re not going to ever get to that point.”
Trump, however, drew a distinction between Canada and Greenland — the latter being a territory he has repeatedly floated as a strategic acquisition for national security reasons.
“It could happen, something could happen with Greenland,” he said. “We need that for national and international security. But Canada — I just don’t see it.”
Trump’s remarks come as tensions with Ottawa continue to simmer. At a private dinner in Florida last November, Trump reportedly told then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada should relinquish its sovereignty and become part of the United States. He later mocked Trudeau online, referring to him as “Governor of the Great State of Canada.”
Following mounting political pressure and sagging poll numbers, Trudeau announced in January he would step down. Trump nonetheless imposed tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, citing concerns over fentanyl trafficking. The 25% tariff triggered consumer boycotts in Canada and fueled nationalist rhetoric ahead of the April 28 federal election.
Liberal Party leader Mark Carney, Trudeau’s successor, won the election and responded defiantly to Trump’s annexation rhetoric.
“President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us,” Carney said in a post-election address. “That will never ever happen. Canada must stand for itself.”
Carney is scheduled to visit the White House on May 6, his first official trip as prime minister. Trump said Carney had “called to introduce himself” and described him as a “nice man,” despite warning that Carney’s lack of a parliamentary majority could weaken his leadership.
The president also confirmed he plans to bring up the annexation issue during their meeting.
“I’m a real estate guy at heart,” Trump said. “When I look at a map — and you erase that artificial line drawn with a ruler — what a beautiful country it would be.”
Although he claimed the United States does not rely on Canadian imports, data from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative contradicts his assertion. In 2024, Canada ranked as one of America’s top two trading partners, with $349.4 billion in U.S. exports and $412.7 billion in imports.
Trump argued the imbalance in defense spending justifies greater integration, noting Canada spends less than the NATO target of 2% of GDP on military expenditures.
“They need us. We don’t need them,” Trump declared. “We do very little business with Canada.”
Trump’s annexation rhetoric is expected to further polarize U.S.-Canada relations and may complicate diplomatic coordination on issues ranging from trade to border security. Though no formal policy exists to pursue Canadian statehood, Trump’s continued focus on the idea has elevated it from a rhetorical flourish to a flashpoint in foreign relations.
While Carney has dismissed the proposal as “absurd,” he has also acknowledged the need to defend Canada’s interests aggressively in upcoming bilateral talks.
