U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 28th (local time), the date of the Canadian general election, "If Canada becomes the precious 51st state of the United States, we can grow the automobile, steel, aluminum, wood, energy, and all other industries fourfold without tariffs or taxes."
Trump shared this on the social media platform Truth Social that he owns.
He noted, "The artificially drawn borderlines from decades ago no longer exist. Think about how beautiful this vast land can be," and urged, "Choose a person who has the strength and wisdom to cut taxes in half and elevate military power to the highest level in the world for free."
Trump wrote this as early voting was taking place in the Canadian general election. Canada is holding its early election due to the early resignation of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has been in power for the past nine years, and the decision of his successor, Prime Minister Mark Carney. It is a battle between the ruling Liberal Party and the opposition Conservative Party.
Trump remarked, "The United States can no longer continue giving Canada billions of dollars in subsidies every year like in the past," adding, "It doesn’t make sense unless Canada becomes a state of the United States."