U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly joked that Canada might become the 51st state of the United States, a remark he continues to make on social media. In his latest post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that many Canadians actually support the idea and suggested that the U.S. “subsidizes” Canada.
However, Stewart Prest, a political science professor at the University of British Columbia, argues that Trump’s comments are more than just jokes—they undermine Canada’s sovereignty.
Speaking to 1130 NewsRadio, Prest expressed confusion over why Canadian political leaders seem to be yielding to Trump on issues like border security. He also pointed out that the ongoing leadership crisis in Ottawa is damaging Canada’s reputation on the world stage.
“The country could have picked a better time for a leadership crisis,” Prest said. “Though, in some ways, these issues are connected. For example, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland mentioned the threat posed by Donald Trump in her resignation letter.”
Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian exports unless Ottawa addresses border issues. Prest, however, emphasized that border security is traditionally a shared responsibility between the two nations, despite their long-standing cooperation on the matter.
He called for a firm and united response from Canada to combat not only tariff threats but also ongoing border security concerns and a growing list of other disagreements with the U.S.
“Bullies don’t stop because you give in to their demands,” Prest said. “They keep pushing when they see you comply.”
