Carney vows "Fight" as Trump floats Canada as 51st state

Liberal Leader Mark Carney, his voice ringing with defiance at a campaign event in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., declared, "America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country, and we will fight them."

His words were a direct response to the U.S. President Donald Trump's latest remarks, in which Trump openly expressed a desire to make Canada the 51st state, a notion Carney characterized as a direct threat to Canadian sovereignty.

"The president’s latest comments are more proof, as if we needed any, that the old relationship with the United States that we’ve had is over. And it’s proof, and it’s a reminder, it’s a call to action that we need to chart a new path," Carney asserted, framing Trump's statements as a turning point in the historically close relationship between the two nations.


Trump, in an interview with Time magazine, dismissed the suggestion that he was "trolling" about acquiring Canada, stating, "Actually, no, I’m not. I’m really not trolling. Canada is an interesting case."

He then proceeded to make unsubstantiated claims about the U.S. "supporting Canada" and repeated his derogatory "governor" remark towards former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

"I asked a man who I called Governor Trudeau. I said, ‘Why? Why do you think we’re losing so much money supporting you? Do you think that’s right? Do you think that’s appropriate for another country to make it possible, for a country to sustain’ and he was unable to give me an answer," Trump alleged.

Trump further claimed that the U.S. "taking care" of Canada's military and "every aspect of their lives," and reiterated his stance on trade, asserting, "We don’t need their lumber. We don’t need their energy. We don’t need anything from Canada. And I say the only way this thing really works is for Canada to become a state."

These claims stand in stark contrast to the reality of the trade relationship between the two countries. According to the U.S. trade representative, the U.S. imported US$412.7 billion worth of goods from Canada in 2024.

When questioned about his potential legacy as a president who expanded U.S. territory, Trump responded, "Wouldn’t mind." He also asserted that Greenland would be "very well off" as part of the United States, citing national and international security concerns.

Carney, however, portrayed Trump's comments as an attempt to divide Canada. He also referenced his phone call with Trump last month, where they discussed the resolution of Trump's tariffs post-election.

"The conclusions of this discussion with the president were clear, that he respected Canada as a sovereign country, that we will meet as two sovereign nations — the prime minister and the president — after Monday’s election to have comprehensive discussion on the economic and security partnership. I advised him that we would be retaliating against any auto tariffs," Carney explained.