Donald Trump reportedly told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada “should become the 51st state,” according to Fox News, which cited unnamed sources.
The President-elect allegedly made the remark during a three-hour-long dinner at his Mar-a-Lago Club last week, which Trudeau attended after Trump threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian products sent to the U.S.
According to Fox News, Trudeau allegedly pleaded with Trump not to implement the new levy during the dinner because it would “kill” Canada’s economy, according to Fox News.
“So your country can’t survive unless it’s ripping off the U.S. to the tune of $100 billion?” Trump reportedly replied, referencing the U.S. trade deficit with Canada.
The president-elect then reportedly joked that Canada could become the 51st state, with Trudeau serving as its governor. Trudeau and others at the table laughed “nervously” at the remark, according to Fox News. Trump also suggested that Canada could be split into two states—a liberal and a conservative one, according to …