Trump, Carney debate annexing Canada as 51st state
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump debated annexing Canada as 51st state during a White House visit.
The U.S.-Canada relationship has seen better days.
The president’s economic policies and bombastic comments have placed a strain on the relationship, and since Donald Trump took office earlier this year, tensions have swelled between the U.S. and one of its largest trading partners. So, how did we get here?
Here’s a brief timeline of key moments in the devolving partnership between the two nations so far.
Tuesday, January 7: In a Mar-A-Lago news conference, Trump muses about annexing Canada, drawing immediate ire from then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“Canada and the United States ‒ that would really be something,” Trump said. “You get rid of that artificially drawn line and you take a look at what that looks like, and it would also be much better for national security.” The then-president-elect ruled out military force, but said he hopes the U.S. can acquire the neighboring country to the north through “economic force.”
In response, Trudeau said, “There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States.”
Tuesday, January 21: Trump says he is considering levying a blanket 25% tariff on Canadian imports starting Feb. 1, pointing to illegal migration and drugs that he says are flowing across the U.S. border.
Saturday, February 1: Trump imposes 25% tariffs on most Canadian imports, plus a lower tariff rate of 10% for energy such as natural gas and oil. Trudeau said Canada would respond with 25% tariffs against $155 billion of U.S. goods, according to Reuters, including alcohol, lumber and appliances.
Monday, February 3: Trump hits pause on the proposed U.S. tariffs for 30 days, citing efforts by Canadian leaders to secure the border. The announcement followed an afternoon call between Trump and Trudeau.
Monday, February 10: Trump slaps a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, of which Canada is a significant supplier. Roughly half of all aluminum used in the U.S. is imported, with most of it coming from Canada.
Thursday, February 20: Justin Trudeau takes a patriotic jab at the U.S. after Canada wins the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey tournament.
“You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game,” Trudeau said on X.
Canadian fans at sports events increasingly take to booing America’s national anthem during games against U.S. teams.
Monday, March 10: The newly elected leader of Canada’s governing Liberal Party, Mark Carney, says in his first speech since winning the race that Canada “never, ever, will be part of America in any way, shape, or form.”
The “Elbows up” movement appears across social media platforms and in protests, encouraging Canadians to stand up and fight back against tariffs. Other forms of Canadian nationalism and anti-American sentiment flourish.
Monday, May 4: Trump again mostly rules out military action against Canada, but reiterates his desire to see the U.S. take control of the Great White North.
“I think we’re not going to ever get to that point,” Trump said in a May 4 interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press. “It could happen.”
Wednesday, March 12: Canada and the European Union unveil retaliatory levies against the U.S. hours after Trump’s sweeping tariffs on imported steel and aluminum imports go into effect.Trump proceeded to halt his plan to double existing 25% tariffs affecting steel and aluminum imports from Canada.
Sunday, March 23: Carney calls for a snap election to seek a national mandate to tackle economic challenges and Trump tariffs.
“We need to build the strongest economy in the G7. We need to deal with President Trump’s tariffs,” Carney posted on X. “Canadians deserve a choice about who should lead that effort for our country.”
Friday, April 2: Trump unveils expansive tariffs on what he calls ‘Liberation Day,’ declaring sweeping tariffs of 10% on imports from all countries. Four Republicans cross Trump in an unsuccessful attempt to stop further tariffs on Canada, and Carney vows retaliatory action.
Tuesday, April 29: Carney wins in snap election and claims the “old relationship” with the U.S. is over during victory remarks.
Tuesday, May 6: Carney tells Trump in their first Oval Office sit-down that Canada is not for sale.“Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign the last several months, it’s not for sale. It won’t be for sale ever,” he said. “But the opportunity is in the partnership and what we can build together.” Contributing: Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy and Joey Garrison, USA TODAY.
Kathryn Palmer is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected] and on X @KathrynPlmr.