It has not even been a full month since Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, yet his actions are already causing major disruptions, both within America and in other countries. One of his biggest moves so far has been the introduction of new trade tariffs targeting Canada, Mexico, and China. However, his focus on Canada seems to be particularly intense.
Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada should join the United States as its 51st state. This idea, however, has been strongly rejected by Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. Trudeau has made it clear that Canada will remain an independent country and will not allow itself to be absorbed by the U.S.
During an interview on MSNBC’s Inside with former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, Trudeau directly addressed Trump’s remarks. He acknowledged Trump’s reputation for unpredictable negotiation tactics but dismissed the idea of Canada becoming a U.S. state. “I know that, as a successful negotiator, he likes to keep people off balance. But the 51st state? It’s not going to happen,” Trudeau said, according to a report by the BBC
Despite Trudeau’s firm response, Trump continued to bring up the idea of Canada becoming part of the U.S. during a recent interview with Fox News. In a Super Bowl interview with host Bret Baier, Trump insisted that his claims about Canada were serious. The Fox News host referred to Trudeau’s reaction, and Trump responded by saying, “It’s a real thing,” according to Forbes.
Trudeau later commented on Trump’s remarks at a business and labor summit, hinting that the U.S. government’s interest in Canada might be related to its rich natural resources. “I suggest that not only does the Trump administration know how many critical minerals we have, but that may be the reason why they keep talking about taking over our country and making us the 51st state,” Trudeau reportedly said, according to The Guardian.
During his Fox News interview, Trump claimed that Canada would actually benefit from becoming a U.S. state. He justified his stance by arguing that the U.S. is losing a huge amount of money in its trade relationship with Canada. “We lose $200 billion a year with Canada, and I’m not going to let that happen. It’s too much. Why are we paying $200 billion a year, essentially as a subsidy, to Canada?” Trump said.
He went even further by saying, “If they’re the 51st state, I don’t mind doing it.”
One major issue with Trump’s statement is that he did not explain where the $200 billion figure comes from. This has led to widespread confusion, with many people questioning the accuracy of his claim.
A report by CNN attempted to break down the number. The report suggests that a large portion of the $200 billion Trump mentioned is linked to U.S. defense spending, which indirectly benefits Canada. The rest of the amount comes from trade deficits in products like cars and lumber.
After the interview, many people took to social media to question Trump’s state of mind. One user posted, “Donald Trump is a demented moron with a personality disorder. I am not sure what is wrong with his supporters,” according to Irish Star.
Concerns about Trump’s mental health are not new. During his presidential debate against former Vice President Kamala Harris, many people raised questions about his cognitive abilities. In March 2024, a petition was circulated demanding that Trump be evaluated for dementia after he showed unusual behavior in his speeches. According to Irish Star, some media professionals even suggested that Trump was experiencing cognitive decline. However, the petition did not lead to any official action, and Trump went on to win the presidency.
Even within Trump’s family, concerns about his mental health have been voiced. His nephew, Fred Trump III, has suggested that dementia runs in the family.
Speaking to HuffPost, Fred Trump III said, “I know what I saw in my grandfather. I know what I saw in Donald’s older sister, my aunt Maryanne. In the end … I am not a doctor, I don’t pretend to be. I just know the warning signs from both of my grandfathers.”
He also mentioned that another relative, John Walters, had dementia, further strengthening his belief that it could be a hereditary issue.
Speaking specifically about Trump, he added, “He looks older. And I get it … anyone who has been in that office comes out looking different. But the things he’s saying, the craziness, and the fact that he can’t seem to stick to a message—he used to be able to do that.”
Trump’s suggestion that Canada should become the 51st state has already sparked international debate. However, with Trudeau standing firm against the idea, it is unlikely that this issue will progress beyond political rhetoric.
At the same time, concerns over Trump’s mental state continue to grow. Whether these concerns will have any real impact on his presidency remains to be seen.
For now, one thing is clear—Trump’s leadership is already making waves, and the world is watching closely to see what happens next.
