Trump Floats ’51st State’ Idea Again in Call with Canadian PM Mark Carney

Former U.S. President Donald Trump once again raised the idea of making Canada the 51st U.S. state during a phone conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in March, Carney confirmed at a recent campaign event.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the Liberal Party leader acknowledged that Trump brought up the idea during a 28 March call—the first week of Canada’s election season. “The president brings this up all the time,” Carney said. “He brought it up yesterday. He brought it up before.”

Pressed further, Carney added, “I said that he did. He has these things in his mind. This is not news.”

The remark, though not previously disclosed, has become a hot-button issue as Canada heads into national elections on Monday. Trump’s ongoing imposition of tariffs and provocative rhetoric—including calling former PM Justin Trudeau a “governor”—has injected tension into the cross-border relationship and spurred a rise in Canadian nationalism.

Despite Trump stating he had “very good” conversations with Carney and claiming he would not interfere in Canada’s election, his influence is palpable. His renewed mention of Canada as a potential U.S. state—an idea deeply unpopular among Canadians—has further strained relations and become a rallying cry for political parties eager to prove their ability to stand firm against U.S. pressure.

Carney made his stance clear: “To be clear, as I’ve said to anyone who’s raised this issue in private or in public, including the president, it will never happen.”

Trump’s economic policies have also drawn ire. Since returning to office, he has imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian-made automobiles and reintroduced global tariffs on steel, aluminium, and other goods. While some products remain protected under the USMCA trade deal, the broader impact has rattled Canada’s economy and become central to campaign debates.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre condemned the latest round of tariffs as “unjustified and unprovoked,” pledging to defend Canadian industries.

In a recent French-language debate, all four major federal party leaders were pressed on how they would counter Trump’s provocations and navigate Canada-U.S. relations going forward.

Early voting has already seen record-breaking numbers, with over 7 million Canadians casting ballots. Polls indicate a tight race, with the Liberal Party holding a slim lead over the Conservatives, according to CBC News.