President Trump said Canada is “considering” becoming the 51st state in exchange for free protection by the proposed “Golden Dome” defense system.
“I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State,” Mr. Trump wrote Tuesday on social media.
“They are considering the offer!” he said.
While Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hasn’t specifically responded to Mr. Trump’s post, he wrote on social media last night that they are working on uniting Canada’s economy.
“We will create one united Canadian economy out of thirteen — removing the barriers that have held back our economy to unleash a new era of growth,” Mr. Carney wrote.
He has said before that Canada will never become the 51st state of the United States, a sentiment shared by his predecessor, Justin Trudeau.
Mr. Carney visited the White House earlier this month where he pointedly said that Canada will never be for sale.
“As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale,” the Canadian prime minister said. “We’re sitting in one right now, you know Buckingham Palace, you visited as well. And having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign last several months — it’s not for sale, won’t be for sale ever.”
“The opportunity is in the partnership and what we can build together. We have done that in the past,” he said.
Mr. Trump announced last week that the architecture for the $175 billion defense missile project has been selected and that he wants it fully functional before he leaves office.
“The design for the Golden Dome will integrate with our existing defense capabilities and should be fully operational before the end of my term, so we’ll have it done in about three years,” the president said in the Oval Office. “Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they’re launched from the other side of the world and even if they are launched from space. And we will have the best system ever built.”
When speaking about it, he mentioned that Canada had expressed interest in being a part of it.
The BBC reported last week that Mr. Carney has said “high level” talks are taking place regarding the system.
“Canadians gave the prime minister a strong mandate to negotiate a comprehensive new security and economic relationship with the United States,” Audrey Champoux, a spokeswoman for Mr. Carney, said.
“To that end, the prime minister and his ministers are having wide-ranging and constructive discussions with their American counterparts,” she said. “These discussions naturally include strengthening NORAD [North American Aerospace Defense Command] and related initiatives such as the Golden Dome.”
Mr. Carney told reporters he wouldn’t “put a price tag” on joining the project at this stage.
