Former President Donald Trump reportedly joked that Canada could avoid his proposed tariffs by becoming the 51st U.S. state during a dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago.
The meeting occurred shortly after Trump suggested imposing a 25% tariff on all goods from Canada and Mexico, along with an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports.
According to sources, Trump quipped that Canada could dodge the tariffs by joining the U.S., suggesting that “prime minister” sounded better than “governor.” The remark prompted nervous laughter from Trudeau and others at the table.
Trump continued the joke, proposing Canada be split into two states, one liberal and one conservative.
The dinner, described as “very productive,” covered several topics, including trade deficits, the fentanyl crisis, and energy policies.
Trudeau expressed concern before the meeting, warning that such tariffs would harm both Canadian and American industries while raising prices for U.S. consumers.
However, following the dinner, Trudeau described the conversation as “excellent,” later posting a photo with Trump on X and expressing optimism about future collaboration.
Trump reiterated his stance on tariffs in a Truth Social post, stating they would remain until illegal drugs and migrants stop entering the U.S.
He emphasized the urgency of tackling the fentanyl crisis and securing fair trade agreements.
