Donald Trump responded to Justin Trudeau’s tariffs with a fiery claim that Canada would “cease to exist as a viable country” without US subsidies.
The US president sparked a bitter trade war, with Mexico and Canada retaliating after imposing steep tariffs on both countries.
After Trudeau declared that he would not back down, Trump proposed on Sunday morning that Canada become “our cherished 51st state.” On his Truth Social platform, he stated, “We pay hundreds of billions of dollars to subsidize Canada.” Why? “There’s no reason.”
He added, “We don’t need anything they have. We have unlimited energy, should build our own cars, and have more lumber than we can possibly use.”
He continued, “Without this massive subsidy, Canada ceases to exist as a viable country. “Harsh but true!” He concluded, “Therefore, Canada should become our cherished 51st state.” Much lower taxes and far better military protection for Canadians, with NO TARIFFS!”
In response to the White House’s tariff announcement on Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum imposed matching tariffs on imported American goods.
Trudeau announced “far-reaching” 25% tariffs on American products worth $106.6 billion, including beer, wine, household appliances, and sporting goods. According to the Express US, Trudeau vowed to “not back down in standing up for Canadians” but warned of serious consequences for people on both sides of the border.
“We do not want to be here. “We didn’t ask for this,” he stated. “The actions taken by the White House split us apart instead of bringing us together.”
In a further push for national unity, he encouraged Canadians to “choose Canadian products and services rather than American ones.”
Trudeau announced that Canada’s retaliatory tariffs would match the timing of America’s imposition, which is set for Tuesday. In response to the rising tensions, Sheinbaum instructed her economic minister to impose both tariff and non-tariff barriers to protect Mexican interests.
She strongly denied the White House’s allegations, saying, “We categorically reject the White House’s slander that the Mexican government has alliances with criminal organizations, as well as any intention of meddling in our territory.”
She also criticized the U.S. domestic policies and suggested, “If the United States government and its agencies wanted to address the serious fentanyl consumption in their country, they could fight the sale of drugs on the streets of their major cities, which they don’t do and the laundering of money that this illegal activity generates that has done so much harm to its population.”
Tensions rose last Saturday when the US president imposed steep tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10% tax on Chinese goods, while Canadian energy products faced a 10% tariff.
The White House justifies these measures as a response to the pressing issues of illegal immigration and drug trafficking, which President Trump promised to address.
In light of this, Trump has warned that if other countries respond with reciprocal tariffs, his tariff regime may become more severe.
The White House justified its latest policy by issuing a statement on X (formerly Twitter), claiming, “The tariff announcement is necessary to hold China, Mexico, and Canada accountable for their promises to halt the flood of poisonous drugs into the United States.”
Trump reiterated his position on Truth Social, claiming, “This was done through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) because of the major threat of illegal aliens and deadly drugs killing our citizens, including fentanyl.”
