Washington’s view on annexing Canada: This is a joke, right? Right? [Video]

In normal times, a G7 and NATO leader accusing a U.S. president of craving annexation would be a headline-detonating, multi-megaton blast of news, leaving shock waves for months.

These aren’t normal times. 

Donald Trump’s repeated talk of annexing Canada is almost universally treated as a joke in Washington. Or, maybe, as a negotiating ploy. If it’s neither, the U.S. president would face a Himalayan climb to make it a reality.

The consensus in Washington that he can’t be serious — right? right? —  is reflected in the scant immediate coverage of eye-popping remarks made Friday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was overheard telling business leaders that, yes, Trump really would like to take over Canada. 

Apparently, the U.S. president made a cryptic comment in his Monday afternoon phone call with Trudeau about having read a 1908 treaty setting the Canada-U.S. boundary and finding it interesting. He did not elaborate. 

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