President Donald Trump isn’t one to mince words, and his latest statement on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle has set the internet ablaze.

“Canada was meant to be the 51st state,” Trump declared, doubling down on his hard-nosed approach to trade negotiations with our northern neighbor.

The comment, which aired on March 23, 2025, and was quickly amplified by a viral X post, has sparked both outrage and intrigue as the U.S.-Canada trade war heats up. 

Trump’s comment comes amid a trade war sparked by Trump’s recent 25% tariff on Canadian imports, a policy aimed at addressing what he claims is a $200 billion annual trade deficit. Official data, however, shows the U.S. goods trade deficit with Canada at $87 billion in 2023, with TD Economics projecting $45 billion for 2024—equivalent to -0.2% of U.S. GDP.

Canada, which exports 75% of its goods to the U.S., has retaliated with boycotts of American products. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned in February 2025 that Trump’s rhetoric may signal a push to control Canada’s critical minerals, such as potash and uranium, vital for green energy.

On March 6, Trump adjusted the tariff to 10% on certain Canadian energy products outside the USMCA, aiming to protect the U.S. auto industry. Still, tensions persist, with Canadians rejecting the “51st state” notion through symbolic acts like anti-annexation stickers in Toronto.

Historically, U.S.-Canada annexation ideas date back to the War of 1812 and 1860s movements in Nova Scotia, though Canada’s British ties prevailed.

Today, the trade dispute threatens economic stability in cities like Dallas, where Canadian energy imports are crucial. While Trump’s comments may be a negotiating tactic, they risk straining a long-standing partnership, with both nations bracing for further economic fallout.