Millions of Canadians are casting their votes Monday in a snap federal election, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s tough talk on trade and bold proposal to make Canada the 51st state. Prime Minister Mark Carney, who recently took over from Justin Trudeau, called the election in March. He faces off against Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in what’s shaping up to be a tight race.
Trump has argued that the U.S. shoulders an unfair economic burden in its relationship with Canada, claiming America spends over $200 billion a year supporting its neighbor and receives little in return. Here is an excerpt from President Trump's recent Time magazine interview:
Canada is an interesting case. We lose $200 to $250 billion a year supporting Canada. And 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, but it costs us over $200 billion a year to take care of Canada?” We’re taking care of their military. We're taking care of every aspect of their lives, and we don't need them to make cars for us. In fact, we don't want them to make cars for us. We want to make our own cars. 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.
A record 7 million Canadians have already voted early. If the Liberals win, Carney remains in office without a swearing-in. A Conservative victory would mean a roughly two-week wait for Poilievre to take power.
U.S. President Donald Trump injected a fresh angle into the election with a Truth Social post urging voters to support a candidate open to making Canada the 51st U.S. state.
