Trump joked to Trudeau that Canada might keep away from tariffs by changing into 51st US state, says report | EUROtoday

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Donald Trump joked that Canada might change into the 51st US state if it needs to keep away from hefty tariffs he plans to impose on the nation, based on sources.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined Trump for dinner at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, for what Trump known as a “very productive” three-hour dinner between the 2 leaders.

The assembly got here days after the president-elect threatened a blanket 25 p.c tariff on “all products” coming into the US from Canada and Mexico – and a further 10 p.c tariff on Chinese items.

Sources informed Fox News that, in the course of the dinner, Trump joked that there’s a method across the looming levies: Canada changing into America’s 51st state.

Trudeau, amongst others on the assembly, responded to the quip with nervous laughter, the sources mentioned.

Trump is claimed to have continued the gag by telling the Canadian chief that prime minister is a greater sounding title than governor.

The sources added that one other particular person across the desk then chimed in that the 51st state could be a really liberal one which sparked additional laughter – and a suggestion from Trump that Canada be cut up into two: a conservative state and a liberal state.

Prior to the assembly, Trudeau had voiced his considerations that Trump’s tariff plans is not going to be merely empty threats.

“Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no question about that,” he informed reporters.

“Our responsibility is to point out that in this way he would be actually not just harming Canadians who work so well with the United States. He’d actually be raising prices for American citizens as well, and hurting American industry and businesses.”

Following the assembly, the Canadian prime minister informed reporters the pair had loved an “excellent conversation.”

On Saturday, Trudeau then shared a photograph with Trump on X and thanked the president-elect for dinner, writing: “I look forward to the work we can do together, again.”

Trump, in the meantime, mentioned that the pair mentioned “many important topics” together with the fentanyl disaster, honest commerce offers and “massive” commerce deficits with the U.S.

Writing on Truth Social on Sunday, he mentioned: “I made it very clear that the United States will no longer sit idly by as our Citizens become victims to the scourge of this Drug Epidemic, caused mainly by the Drug Cartels, and Fentanyl pouring in from China.

“Too much death and hardship! Prime Minister Trudeau has made a commitment to work with us to end this terrible devastation of U.S. Families.”

Trump added that additionally they addressed “energy, trade, and the Arctic”.

The proposed tariff plan comes as Trump blames Canada and Mexico for the move of migrants and medicines into the U.S.

“This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!” Trump mentioned on Truth Social on November 25.