As Canadians cast their votes in a closely watched federal election, U.S. President Donald Trump stirred controversy by weighing in from south of the border — once again suggesting Canada should become the 51st state of the United States.
In a bold and unsolicited post on his Truth Social platform Monday morning, Trump offered “good luck to the great people of Canada” and went on to encourage them to support a candidate who would slash taxes, strengthen the military, and supercharge the country’s economy — if, that is, Canada were to join the U.S.
The post, filled with sweeping promises and grandiose claims, echoed Trump’s earlier musings about absorbing Canada into the U.S., something he claimed would eliminate border issues and give Canadians access to vast economic benefits. Trump even suggested that the United States spends “hundreds of billions of dollars a year” subsidizing Canada — a claim without factual basis.
“Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half,” Trump wrote, “increase your military power for free… and quadruple your business output with zero tariffs or taxes.” All this, he said, would be possible if Canada dropped its sovereignty.
The social media post sparked immediate political backlash in Canada. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre responded firmly, telling Trump to stay out of Canada’s affairs.
“President Trump, stay out of our election,” Poilievre wrote. “The only people who will decide the future of Canada are Canadians at the ballot box.”
He added that Canada is, and will remain, a “proud, sovereign and independent” nation — not a future state in Trump’s America.
“Today Canadians can vote for change so we can strengthen our country, stand on our own two feet and stand up to America from a position of strength,” Poilievre said in his own social media statement.
Trump’s sudden push to involve himself in the Canadian election capped off weeks of growing controversy surrounding his comments on Canada. His post on election day wasn’t the first time he floated the idea of annexation. Just weeks earlier, a Radio-Canada report revealed that during a private call with Liberal Leader Mark Carney in late March, Trump had again raised the notion of Canada joining the U.S.
Carney, when asked about the call, initially downplayed the exchange. He told reporters Trump had “respected Canada’s sovereignty,” but later confirmed Trump did mention the “51st state” idea. Carney, who has campaigned on maintaining strong but independent ties with the U.S., dismissed the comment by saying, “The president says a lot of things.”
However, Trump’s remarks have repeatedly pushed the topic into the campaign spotlight, influencing the tone of debates and fueling concerns about Canadian autonomy. During the final weeks of the campaign, Trump’s trade record — including steel and aluminum tariffs imposed on Canada during his presidency — resurfaced as a key issue.
In recent interviews, Trump made clear that he favors a potential Liberal win over a Conservative one, stating he believes it would be easier to work with a Liberal leader. Without naming Carney or Poilievre, he said, “The Conservative that’s running is stupidly no friend of mine. I don’t know him, but he said negative things.”
Trump denied that his comments about annexing Canada were just provocation. In a Time magazine interview, he said, “Actually, no, I’m not [trolling]… Canada is an interesting case. I say the only way this thing really works is for Canada to become a state.”
Despite his insistence, both Liberal and Conservative leaders have publicly rejected the idea. And with Canadians hitting the polls, it’s clear that most voters are focused on national issues — not foreign interference, even from a former ally-turned-provocateur.