In a bold Oval Office exchange, Trump teased Canada as America’s “51st state,” rebuking Ottawa’s pro-Palestine stance while tightening trade screws.
In a fiery yet light-hearted moment at the White House on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump once again referred to Canada as the “51st state of the United States,” sparking laughter and headlines alike. The remark came during a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, as the two leaders discussed a range of issues — from trade disputes to Canada’s controversial recognition of Palestinian statehood.
“We’ve had some natural conflict, but we’ll work that out,” Trump said confidently. “We’ve had a strong relationship. Your hosting of various countries was a beautiful job, and I appreciate it very much. We’ll be talking about trade, different things — and certainly, we’ll be talking about Gaza.”
Trump’s pointed mention of Gaza hinted at Washington’s disapproval of Canada’s recent diplomatic tilt toward the Palestinian Authority — a move seen in Israel and among pro-Western allies as undermining democratic values and rewarding terrorism.
Carney, however, appeared eager to smooth tensions, hailing Trump as a “transformative President.” He credited Trump’s tenure with bringing “peace from India to Pakistan, and from Azerbaijan to Armenia,” as well as “disabling Iran as a force of terror.”
The room burst into laughter when Trump interjected mid-speech: “The merger of Canada and the United States!” The quip was a callback to a 2020 exchange when Carney had responded that “Canada will never be up for sale.”
Despite the humor, the meeting carried serious undertones. Trump’s administration has recently increased tariffs on Canadian steel, autos, and digital services, warning that Canada’s diplomatic choices could carry economic consequences.
As Trump doubles down on trade and stands firm with Israel, Carney’s balancing act between globalist ideals and economic pragmatism faces new pressure — from both Washington and Ottawa’s own voters.
