WASHINGTON — During a Super Bowl pre-game interview, President Donald Trump declared his serious intent to make Canada the 51st U.S. state.
Responding to Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier’s question about the viability of annexing Canada—a concern raised by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau—Trump confirmed its seriousness.
Trump asserted that Canada would be better off as the 51st state, citing an alleged annual loss of $200 billion to the U.S. due to trade with Canada. He questioned why the U.S. should be paying this sum, essentially characterizing it as a subsidy.
This assertion is inaccurate. The U.S. imports products from Canada, including energy resources. While the trade deficit in goods has risen to $72 billion in 2023, this is mainly due to U.S. imports of Canadian energy.
Trump has repeatedly proposed that Canada’s integration as the 51st state would be beneficial, a proposition that is deeply unpopular in Canada.
Trudeau, in a private meeting with business and labor leaders, confirmed Trump’s proposal as genuine, linking it to the desire for access to Canada’s natural resources.
According to Canada’s public broadcaster, CBC, Trudeau stated that Trump aims to acquire Canada’s resources by absorbing the country. He highlighted that the U.S. is well aware of Canada’s resources and their desire to benefit from them.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to the Super Bowl, Trump further threatened Canada, a long-standing U.S. ally. He argued that Canada is economically unsustainable without U.S. trade and that its reliance on the U.S. for military protection is no longer guaranteed.
Trump criticized Canada’s low military spending, attributing it to an assumption of U.S. protection. He questioned the rationale behind protecting another country without adequate compensation.
In his pre-recorded Fox interview, Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Canada and Mexico’s actions to avert the impending tariffs. He stated that their efforts are insufficient and that changes are necessary.
Following a 30-day extension, Trump initially planned to impose a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada (excluding Canadian oil, natural gas, and electricity, which faced a 10% tariff) due to concerns about border security and drug trafficking.
Aboard Air Force One, Trump announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, including from Canada and Mexico, with reciprocal tariffs to follow later in the week. His justification was simple: retaliation for any tariffs imposed on the U.S.
Trump’s Super Bowl interview marked a return to a presidential tradition of appearing on the network broadcasting the game. However, both Trump and his predecessor, Joe Biden, have been inconsistent in their participation.
Biden declined participation last year and in 2023. Attempts to arrange an interview with a Fox Corp. streaming service instead of the main network also failed. Trump participated in three out of four years during his first term.
Trump, the first President to attend the Super Bowl in person, expressed his belief that his presence benefited the country.
During his flight, Trump signed a proclamation declaring February 9th “the first ever Gulf of America Day,” renaming the Gulf of Mexico.
In the interview, Trump defended Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), which is causing concern among Democrats due to its agency closures and federal workforce reductions aimed at eliminating waste and inefficiency.
Trump praised Musk’s work, stating that he will target the Department of Education and the military next, predicting significant savings due to uncovering fraud and abuse.
He also addressed the popularity of his dancing on social media, stating he finds himself unable to resist dancing.
—Associated Press writer Darlene Superville aboard Air Force One contributed to this report.