United States President-elect Donald Trump recently ridiculed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, referring to him as the "governor of Canada," as if the sovereign northern nation were a state of the United States.
In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, "It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada. I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all! DJT."
I will never forget when Justin Trudeau mocked Trump behind his back.
I hope President Trump concedes nothing to this fraud at their meeting. pic.twitter.com/LmsZx8SUlp
— George (@BehizyTweets) November 29, 2024
The two leaders have a fraught history dating back to 2016, when Trudeau mocked Trump in a gathering of world leaders, a moment caught on television cameras. Trudeau visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida recently, where the US former president reportedly joked about Canada becoming "the 51st state of the United States." This exchange was reported by Fox News.
The meeting took place shortly after Trump proposed a 25% tariff on goods entering the United States from Canada. Trump also expressed frustration with Trudeau over the influx of illegal immigrants and drugs across the Canadian border and reiterated his threat to impose protective tariffs on Canadian products.
Trudeau warned that a tariff of this magnitude "would destroy our economy," to which Trump, reportedly in jest, suggested Canada could resolve the issue by joining the United States. Trump also criticized Trudeau over trade imbalances, claiming a $100 billion annual deficit in the US-Canada trade relationship.
"Can your country even survive without cheating the United States out of $100 billion every year? Maybe you should become the 51st state of the United States," Trump reportedly told Trudeau, who responded with a nervous laugh. Trump later described the meeting as "productive."
