Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, was caught on hot mic making alarming statements about the country’s future with America last Friday.
Trudeau, believing that his microphone was off, made a statement about Trump.
“Mr. Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country and it is a real thing,” said Trudeau.
This comment was made in response to a statement made by President Trump expressing the desire for Canada to become the US’s 51st state.
Caught on tape by The Toronto Star, Trudeau continued.
“I suggest that not only does the Trump administration know how many critical minerals we have but that may be even why they keep talking about absorbing us and making us the 51st state,” he said.
According to The Toronto Star, the comments were made in a private meeting and were addressed to a group of company executives, and industry and union leaders.
Trudeau’s administration denied the Associated Press’ initial request for comment, but Trudeau’s statements were later confirmed by an X post made by Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labor.
“Yes,” McGowan said.
“I can confirm that Trudeau said his assessment is that what Trump really wants is not action on fentanyl or immigration or even the trade deficit, what he really wants is to either dominate Canada or take it outright.”
HU student Ashea Broadus, a first year in the 5-year MBA program, shared her concerns about the US’ future relations with Canada.
“I believe that the Prime Minister being caught on mic saying what he genuinely believes Trump is preparing to do – because… that’s a relative country, [one] we share goods with, [one] we have a lot of back-and-forth transactions with – can cause tension,” she said.
She also worries that Canada will increase their regulations for American travelers coming in and out of the country, though no steps have been taken in that direction by their administration yet.
President Trump began expressing the desire for Canada’s statehood back in November during a dinner with Prime Minister Trudeau, according to Politico. Former Canadian Public Safety Minister, Dominic LeBlanc, insisted the original claims were made in a joking manner.
Trump has persisted with the claims since then, doubling down in North Carolina in January.
“The Canadian citizens, if that happened, would get a very big tax cut — a tremendous tax cut — because they are very highly taxed. They’d have much better health coverage. I think the people of Canada would like it,” Trump said.
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