By Olivier Acuña Barba •
Published: 28 May 2025 • 17:21
• 3 minutes read
President Donald Trump again raised the topic of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state and assured that they were considering the offer.
Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he “told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 billion if they remain a separate, but unequal, nation.”
The Golden Dome is Trump’s ambitious programme that he says is to protect the United States from China and Russia. He also said it would be fully operational by 2029. It consists of up to 1,000 satellites with missile-launching capabilities to shield the country from foreign incoming projectiles of all types. The president said it would cost Canada “ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State. They are considering the offer!”
No response yet from Canada
Canada has not responded to his assertion, but earlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told Trump at the White House, “There are some places that are never for sale. Having met with the owners (citizens) of Canada over the course of the campaign, the last several months, it’s not for sale. It won’t be for sale ever.”
In a recent poll, about 80 per cent of Canadians said they were “strongly opposed” to becoming a US state, which, however, means 20 per cent would be in favour.
Trump really does need Canada
Apparently, as well, it’s Trump who needs Canada more than they need him to make his Golden Dome dream come true.
Canada would need to allow radar and airspace access for the US military to be able to track and respond to potential missiles coming from China or Russia via the polar region, Politico reported last week. “He can’t build it without Canada,” Politico said.
“Canada has nearly 4 million square miles of territory. That airspace offers a crucial line of sight for U.S. sensors to shoot down missiles that Beijing and Moscow are developing to fly over the North Pole — a huge gap in American air defences,” Politico said.
Ending a war in one day
So, for now, Trump’s assertions that Canada is considering becoming part of the United States appear to be one more of his lies or at least exaggerations.
For example, he claimed he could achieve peace between Russia and Ukraine in a single day. He said that in July 2024. He then backtracked and, in April 2025, said he had been speaking figuratively the previous month.
A few days ago, Trump told Putin he was playing with fire and that trying to control Ukraine would be his downfall.
It all seems much more like rhetoric than reality.
“What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realise is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!” he said.
Just days prior, he said, “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!”
And then he commented: “I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!”
That said, Trump has not outlined any concrete actions, not even further sanctions, which he has said he is willing to implement, but has taken no actual steps to move forward with them.
King Charles in Canada, a rebuke symbol
Last but not least, King Charles is in Canada. He addressed the nation and did not even mention Trump once. The Washington Post said: “The king’s whirlwind visit to Canada is widely considered by royal watchers to be a symbolic rebuke of President Trump’s 51st-state threats.”
British newspaper The Guardian published an Opinion article saying, “If a monarch who is the master of pomp can soothe the ego of our noisy neighbour, that’s good news even for republicans. Canadians are happy to cling to King Charles, as long as he keeps us safe from Trump.”
