Trump mocks Trudeau as ‘Governor of Canada’ amid trade tension

The United States President-elect, Donald Trump, has ridiculed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the escalating trade tension between the neighbours.

In a cheeky post on his Truth and Social platform on Tuesday, Trump referred to Trudeau as the “governor” of a state rather than the leader of Canada, one of the world’s wealthiest nations.

He 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!”

The returning president’s remarks come on the heels of reports from *Fox News* that during a recent meeting with Trudeau in Florida, Trump suggested Canada could become US 51st state.

This suggestion was reportedly made in response to potential Canadian resistance to his proposed 25% tariff on all imports from the country.

According to the report, Trump told Trudeau that if Canada could not withstand such tariffs, “then it should be absorbed into the United States.”

This isn’t the first time Trump has made such provocative statements. During his first presidential term, he floated the idea of purchasing Greenland from Denmark, a proposal that sparked widespread controversy.

“Why are we subsidizing these countries?” Trump questioned during a televised NBC interview on Sunday, referencing both Canada and Mexico. “If we’re going to subsidize them, let them become a state.”

Despite the sharp rhetoric, both Trump and Trudeau publicly described their meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate as productive.

READ ALSO: Trump vows military-led mass deportation in border crackdown

Trump characterized the dinner as “a very productive meeting,” while Trudeau called it “an excellent conversation.”

Trump has accused Canada and Mexico—two of the United States’ largest trading partners—of failing to curb illegal migration and drug trafficking into the US. This criticism comes despite the countries being part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trilateral free-trade pact.

Trump’s threats of tariffs against Canada and Mexico have further strained relations, with his comments about statehood adding an unusual twist to ongoing trade negotiations.

While some interpret Trump’s remarks as characteristic bluster or humor, the provocative nature of his comments underscores the unpredictable dynamics that could define his interactions with US allies in the future.

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