Fri Jan 10 12:44:08 UTC 2025: ## Trudeau Jokes About Trading States with Trump Amidst US Tariff Threats
**OTTAWA** – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed a humorous exchange with then-President-elect Donald Trump, involving a joking suggestion to trade Vermont or California for parts of Canada. The exchange occurred during a November meeting at Mar-a-Lago, following Trump’s repeated suggestions that Canada become the 51st US state.
Trudeau, in interviews with MSNBC and CNN, confirmed that he offered the states as a lighthearted counterproposal to Trump’s annexation idea. He emphasized that Trump quickly dismissed the joke and the conversation moved on. However, the Prime Minister has consistently rejected the idea of Canadian annexation, stating definitively on X (formerly Twitter), “There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States.”
This exchange comes amidst heightened tensions between the two countries. Trump, in his second term, is reportedly planning to impose a blanket 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods, citing the ongoing fentanyl crisis. Trudeau has expressed serious concerns about these tariffs, stating Canada is prepared to respond robustly. He suggested that Trump’s annexation talk is a negotiating tactic to distract from the economic impact of the proposed tariffs.
The looming tariff threat has already caused significant political upheaval in Canada. Both Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland have resigned from their positions, partly due to criticism of their handling of the situation. Trudeau’s resignation from the leadership of the Liberal Party, however, was partially attributed to the pressure stemming from Trump’s aggressive trade policies. The Prime Minister stressed his focus remains on addressing the substantial threat posed by the upcoming tariffs rather than the improbable scenario of Canadian annexation.
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