During a recent dinner at President-elect Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, a lighthearted exchange took place between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The conversation reportedly centered around tariffs, with Trump jokingly suggesting that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States. This jest came in the context of discussions about potential tariff increases on goods from Mexico and Canada, a move that Trump had previously indicated.
Trudeau, who made an impromptu trip to Florida, engaged in what was described as a polite pushback against the proposed tariffs, highlighting the potential negative impact on the Canadian economy. In response, Trump humorously proposed the idea of Canada joining the U.S. as a new state, a comment that was reportedly taken in jest by the other dinner guests.
The light-hearted remark about Canada becoming the 51st state was first reported by a source familiar with the conversation. Among the notable attendees at the dinner were North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, and various individuals who have been selected for key positions in Trump's administration, including the Department of the Interior secretary, national security adviser, and commerce secretary.
Also present were Trudeau's chief of staff Katie Telford and Canadian Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc. The dinner provided an informal setting for discussions on important matters between the leaders of the U.S. and Canada, showcasing the friendly and collaborative relationship between the two neighboring countries.
