US President-elect Donald Trump suggested to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week that if a tariff for failing to address trade and immigration issues would kill the neighbor to the north’s economy, maybe it should become the 51st state, Fox News reported, quoting sources.
Last Friday, Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago unannounced after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products. Specifically, Trump is threatening to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico over their failures to curb the flow of illegal immigrants and illicit drugs from those countries into the US.
Now, new details are beginning to emerge about the meeting between the two men, which Trump called "very productive."
Before nibbling on crab cocktail and slurping down oysters, the issues of tariffs, border security and trade deficits were front and center.
According to two people at the table who heard the discussion, Trump, while cordial and welcoming, was very direct when it came to what he wants from his counterpart to the North.
Paraphrasing the discussion, Trump told Trudeau that Canada has failed the US border by allowing large amounts of drugs and people across the border, including illegal immigrants from over 70 different countries.
Sources say Trump became more animated when it came to the US trade deficit with Canada, which he estimated to be more than $100 billion.
The president-elect told the prime minister if Canada cannot fix the border issues and trade deficit, he will levy a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods on day one when he returns to office.
Trudeau told Trump he cannot levy the tariff because it would kill the Canadian economy completely. Trump replied - asking, so your country can't survive unless it's ripping off the US to the tune of $100 billion?
Trump then suggested to Trudeau that Canada become the 51st state, which caused the prime minister and others to laugh nervously, sources told Fox News.
But he continued, telling Trudeau that prime minister is a better title, though he could still be governor of the 51st state.
Sources told Fox News someone at the table chimed in and advised Trump that Canada would be a very liberal state, which received even more laughter. Trump suggested that Canada could possibly become two states: a conservative and a liberal one.
He told Trudeau that if he cannot handle his list of demands without ripping the U.S. off in trade, maybe Canada should really become a state or two and Trudeau could become a governor.
While sources say the exchange got many laughs, Trump delivered the message that he expected change by January 20.
The nearly three-hour conversation continued about various other topics, and at the end, the Canadian guests called the dinner "very friendly and very positive," though no reference was made about becoming the 51st state.
Fox News Digital has reached out to both the Trump camp and Trudeau’s team about the statements, though neither immediately responded.
Source: Fox News