Wed Jan 08 05:01:39 UTC 2025: ## Biden Praises Trudeau Amid Trump’s Continued Threats to Canada

**OTTAWA/WASHINGTON D.C.** – US President Joe Biden has issued strong words of support for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, praising his leadership and the enduring US-Canada alliance amid escalating threats from former President Donald Trump. Trump, who has repeatedly called for Canada to become the 51st US state, has vowed to use “economic force” against Canada due to its trade surplus with the United States.

Biden’s statement on X (formerly Twitter) lauded Trudeau as a “steadfast friend” and emphasized the strength of the US-Canada partnership, stating that the world is “better off” because of Trudeau’s leadership. He explicitly refuted Trump’s repeated attempts to pressure Canada into joining the US.

Trump’s threats stem from Canada’s growing trade surplus with the US, which reached $8.2 billion in November 2024, according to Canadian government statistics. He has previously offered large tax cuts to Canadian businesses as an incentive for joining the US federation.

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly responded defiantly to Trump’s threats, asserting Canada’s economic and national strength and vowing the country would not yield to pressure. Prime Minister Trudeau himself also firmly rejected the idea of a merger with the US, stating that there is “no chance in hell” it would happen. He emphasized the mutual benefits of the existing trade and security partnership between the two nations. The ongoing tension highlights the complex relationship between the two North American neighbors.

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