Donald Trump has made a bold and surprising new proposal to Canada. He told the Canadian government they have two choices: either pay the United States \$61 billion to be included in America’s new missile defense system, or become the 51st U.S. state and get it for free.
Trump made the announcement on his social media platform, Truth Social. He claimed that Canada wants to be protected by what he calls the “Golden Dome” system, but said that if Canada remains an independent country, they’ll have to pay a steep price. If they agree to join the U.S. as another state, however, they’ll be included at no cost. He ended the post with a vague suggestion that Canada might be seriously thinking about the offer.
This isn’t the first time Trump has tried to pressure Canada. He’s often mocked Canadian leaders, especially former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and even sarcastically referred to him as “Governor Trudeau,” as if he already believed Canada should be part of the U.S. But Canada has consistently rejected his comments. Their new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, won the most recent election largely by pushing back against Trump and strongly defending Canadian independence.
Trump’s missile defense plan, the “Golden Dome,” is a massive military project meant to defend against attacks by using weapons in space. It’s the first time the U.S. would try to build a defense system of this kind. Trump says it will be ready before his term ends in 2029. He also claims it will be able to stop missile attacks—even ones launched from outer space. The plan has a price tag of at least \$175 billion, though experts say the real cost could be over \$500 billion during the next 20 years. Trump is asking Congress for \$25 billion to get started.
Meanwhile, Canada’s position on this hasn’t changed. Just recently, King Charles visited Canada and gave a powerful speech in their Parliament, saying the country remains strong and independent. He reminded everyone that the world is becoming more dangerous, but emphasized Canada’s stability and national pride. His comments came at an important time, especially with Trump suggesting that Canada should give up its sovereignty in exchange for security.
During Prime Minister Carney’s first meeting with Trump at the White House, things were reportedly tense. Carney clearly stated, “Canada is not for sale.” Trump, smirking, simply replied, “Time will tell.”
A few hours before that meeting, Trump had posted online that the U.S. doesn’t need anything from Canada, a message he repeated later during their talks. His tone made it clear that he sees Canada more as a business opportunity than a trusted ally.
Next month, Trump is expected to travel to Canada for the G7 summit. Given everything he’s said recently, it’s likely that the Canadian public won’t welcome him warmly. Many people are upset about what they see as threats to their country’s independence.
This whole situation has raised serious questions about how the U.S. sees its neighbors and how far Trump is willing to go to push his vision for America’s future. Whether this is a serious offer or just political theater, it’s clear that the relationship between the two countries is being tested like never before.
