Trump maintains position on Canada, believes it would benefit as 51st US state: White House
US President Donald Trump still believes Canada would benefit from becoming the 51st state of the United States, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Responding to a question about whether Trump’s stance on Canada had changed, Leavitt said, “I would reject the notion that the president’s position on Canada has shifted. Perhaps he just hasn’t been asked about Canada recently by members of the press in the Oval Office, where they see him almost every day. However, the president still maintains his position on Canada. The United States has been subsidizing Canada’s national defense, and he believes that Canadians would benefit greatly from becoming the 51st state of the United States of America.”
Trump had previously floated the idea of Canada joining the US and mockingly referred to former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the “Governor of Canada.”
Leavitt also addressed trade-related issues, noting there were no new announcements regarding support for automakers but emphasizing Trump’s flexible approach to negotiations. “His goal is fair trade that puts the American worker first,” she said, adding that the president has been in discussions with automakers and workers who support his efforts.
On Monday, Trump told reporters he was “looking into” potential part-specific tariff exemptions for carmakers, emphasizing the importance of flexibility as companies adjust their supply chains. His comments came shortly after the administration exempted electronic devices—such as smartphones and laptops—from reciprocal tariffs.
Speaking to reporters during a meeting with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele on Monday, Trump said, “I’m looking at something to help some of the car companies, where they are switching to parts that were made in Canada, Mexico, and other places. They’re going to make them here, but they need a little bit of time — so I’m talking about things like that.”
Trump reiterated his earlier remarks about the need for flexibility during ongoing tariff talks with various nations. “I’m a very flexible person. I don’t change my mind, but I’m flexible — and you have to be,” Trump said. “You just can’t have a wall and only a wall. Sometimes, you have to go around it, under it, or above it.”
“There will maybe be things coming… I don’t want to hurt anybody, but the end result is we’re going to get to a position of greatness for our country”, the US President added.
