On his way to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Sunday, President Donald Trump suggested Canada would not be “viable as a country” if the U.S. stopped subsidizing it.
“We subsidize them [Canada] to the tune of about $200 billion a year. If we stop doing that, if we stop allowing them to make cars, trucks and what they make – through tariffs and other things – they’re not viable as a country,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Trump’s comments came when responding to questions about the severity of his desires to annex Greenland, the Panama Canal, Gaza and Canada. Despite sharing several grievances about Canada amid the countries’ looming trade war, the Republican leader echoed his desire for Canada to become the 51st state.
“Canada would be cherished as a 51st state,” Trump said, further suggesting it would be the “greatest thing they could ever do,” because they would pay less taxes.