Trump Jokes About Canada Becoming “51st US State” During Meeting With PM Carney
US President Donald Trump jested with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during a bilateral meeting, joking that Canada could be the "51st US State."
By Orlin Milinov
Washington —
In a lighthearted moment during a high-level bilateral meeting in Washington, US President Donald Trump quipped that Canada could become the “51st US state”, drawing laughter from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The exchange, which took place during formal discussions at the White House, underscored the mix of humor and diplomacy that has characterized recent US–Canada relations.
“I’ve been very creative,” Trump said with a grin, pointing at Carney. “He said very carefully—‘Canada and the United States.’ We’ve had some natural conflicts, but we’ll probably work that out. We’ve always had a strong relationship.”
Trump went on to commend Canada for hosting several recent international meetings. “Your hosting of the various countries that showed up was a beautiful job. I appreciate it very much,” he added. “We’re going to be talking about trade, and of course, we’ll certainly be talking about Gaza.”
Touching on global affairs, Trump said he and Carney would discuss ongoing peace efforts in the Middle East, adding that his administration was “in serious negotiations” to bring stability to the region.
“There’s a real chance we could have peace in the Middle East—something beyond the Gaza situation,” Trump said. “We want to release the hostages. Every country in the world has supported the plan, and I don’t think there’s anybody that hasn’t approved of it.”
Prime Minister Carney praised Trump’s leadership, calling him a “transformative president”. “Since your administration, we’ve seen transformation in the economy, unprecedented commitment to NATO partners, peace initiatives in regions like India, Pakistan, and the Caucasus, and efforts to contain Iran’s influence,” Carney noted.
At one point, when Carney began outlining the meeting’s agenda by saying, “This is, in many respects, the most important—,” Trump interrupted with a smile, exclaiming, “The merger of Canada and the United States!”—prompting laughter from both sides.
However, behind the friendly banter, diplomatic tension was evident. While the US remains a staunch ally of Israel, Canada recently recognised the Palestinian state on September 21, creating subtle differences in foreign policy.
In a previous meeting in May, Carney had firmly told Trump that “Canada would never be for sale,” in response to Trump’s earlier remarks about potentially purchasing or annexing the country — comments that had sparked widespread debate.
Despite occasional disagreements, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on trade, security, and global peace.
