In a speech to senior military leaders on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump revived his rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state. The comments came when Trump brought up his “Golden Dome” missile defence plan. “Canada called me a couple of weeks ago, they want to be part of it, to which I said, ‘Well, why don’t you just join our country. You become 51 – become the 51st state – and you get it for free,’” Trump said. Trump previously stated that it could cost Canada as much as US$71 billion to join the Golden Dome program, which is modelled after Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system. On Tuesday, Trump also boasted about tariffs causing investment to leave Canada for the U.S. “They’re having a hard time up there in Canada now because, as you know, with tariffs everyone’s coming into our country,” he said. Taufiq Rahim is a geopolitical strategist and the author of the book “Trump 2.5: A Primer.” He says Trump’s speech was full of “fiery rhetoric” about realigning the military’s focus to the Americas and domestic issues like the border and crime. “President Trump is a rambler,” Rahim told CTV’s Your Morning Wednesday from New York. “He calls it ‘the weave.’ He brings in so many different issues at any point in time.” Rahim believes Trump brought up his 51st state rhetoric as “a point of levity for his audience.” “I think also he’s using it to poke Canada,” Rahim added. “Negotiations are in a lull and he’s trying to demonstrate that in some way or shape or form, this is an advantage for him that he can kind of, you know, poke the Canadian bear so to speak.” Trade negotiations between the U.S. and Canada remain ongoing. Since Prime Minister Mark Carney’s election victory in April, Trump has largely toned down his rhetoric about annexing Canada. Rahim says bringing up the issue in front of senior U.S. military commanders does not bode well for America’s northern neighbour. “I think the fact that Canada is mentioned is not good because there are many other countries to mention and it means that it’s on his mind,” Rahim said. Trump and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hastily assembled generals and admirals to Virginia on Tuesday to highlight their stance on military culture and defence priorities. “The era of politically correct, overly sensitive, don’t hurt anyone’s feelings leadership ends right now,” Hegseth said. “If the words I’m speaking today are making your hearts sink, then you should do the honourable thing and resign.” With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press
