President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden have publicly commented on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation plans, but their reactions couldn’t be more different.
Trump, who has in recent weeks taunted Trudeau and Canada by referring to him as “Governor Trudeau” of the “State of Canada,” reacted to the resignation announcement by claiming Canadians backed his merger proposal.
“Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat,” said Trump on his website Truth Social.
“Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned. If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!”
Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned. If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) January 6, 2025
In reality, a majority of Canadians are opposed to Canada becoming a U.S. state. A recent public opinion poll from Leger showed that only 13% of Canadians would be interested in Canada becoming America’s 51st state.
The latest comment is a continuation of Trump’s attitude towards Trudeau since the prime minister visited the President-elect at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida shortly after the 2024 presidential election.
Upon Chrystia Freeland’s recent resignation as finance minister, Trump called her toxic while he suggested that Wayne Gretzky replace Trudeau as the “governor of Canada.”
On the other hand, President Biden issued a statement thanking Trudeau for partnering on shared policies such as the COVID-19 pandemic response, climate change and attempting to stop fentanyl distribution.
“We’ve stood together with the people of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression to defend our nations’ most sacred value: freedom,” Biden said. “We have made generational investments to strengthen our supply chains and rebuild our economies from the bottom up and middle out—establishing North America as the most economically competitive region in the world.”
He lauded the exiting prime minister’s “commitment, optimism and strategic vision” and said that the American and Canadian people were “safer because of him.”
Tech CEO Elon Musk, who is slated to play a role in the incoming administration, posted that 2025 was going to be a good year following the news of Trudeau’s departure.
2025 is looking good 🔥 🚀 😎 https://t.co/qhVMzzy3yW
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 6, 2025
Musk has sparked the ire of the governments of France and the U.K. with his outspoken remarks. In Canada, politicians like NDP MP Peter Julian have called for X to be boycotted until it is owned by the government as a public company.
