The Question

 Asked various AI this very same question:

US President Trump has touted that Canada could become the 51th state of the USA. Has anyone from his Administration commented or elaborated on this?

COPILOT:

                                                                             

META AI:

                                                                                  

DEEPSEEK:

 Yes, members of the Trump Administration have commented on the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state of the USA. Here are some key points from their statements:

1. Kevin Hassett, Director of the National Economic Council: Hassett suggested that Trump’s idea of annexing Canada might not be entirely outlandish. He referenced the historical expansion of the U.S., stating, “When the U.S. was founded, how many states did we have? And how many do we have now?” This implies that the idea of adding new states, including Canada, aligns with the country’s historical trajectory5.

2. James Blair, Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs: During a meeting with Canadian premiers, Blair clarified that the White House had not agreed to dismiss the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state. He stated, “We never agreed that Canada would not be the 51st state,” and emphasized that the best way to understand Trump’s position is to take his words at face value9.

3. Trump’s Repeated Statements: Trump himself has confirmed that he is serious about the idea, stating in an interview that Canada “would be much better off” as a U.S. state. He cited economic reasons, claiming the U.S. loses $200 billion annually in trade with Canada and framing it as a subsidy. He also referred to Canada’s natural resources as a motivating factor for his interest in annexation57.

4. Focus on Economic and Strategic Interests: Trump’s administration has highlighted Canada’s critical minerals and natural resources as key reasons for the interest in closer integration. Trump has suggested that absorbing Canada would be an “easy way” to benefit from these resources57.

While these comments indicate that the idea has been discussed within the administration, it is important to note that Canadian leaders have consistently rejected the notion, calling it a “non-starter” and emphasizing Canada’s sovereignty and independence1312.

PERPLEXITY AI:

Yes, members of the Trump administration have commented on President Trump's proposal to make Canada the 51st state of the United States. James Blair, Trump's deputy chief of staff, addressed the issue after a meeting with Canadian premiers9. When British Columbia Premier David Eby stated that making Canada the 51st state was a "non-starter," Blair responded on social media, saying, "To be clear, we never agreed that Canada would not be the 51st state. We only agreed to share Premier Eby's comments"9.

Additionally, Trump himself has confirmed the seriousness of this proposal. In a pre-Super Bowl interview with Fox News host Bret Baier, Trump agreed that his desire to absorb Canada is a "real thing"4. He claimed that Canada "would be much better off" as a U.S. state and expressed concerns about the alleged $200 billion the U.S. pays to Canada each year4.

It's important to note that while some administration officials have echoed Trump's sentiments, there is currently no major legislation advancing that would extend an invitation to statehood to Canada8. The proposal has been met with strong opposition from Canadian officials and citizens, with polls showing that 90% of Canadians are opposed to the idea2.

MERLIN (CHATGPT)