Trump Suggests Canada Become 51st State After Technical Recession

President Donald Trump revived claims that Canada should become the 51st state in a Truth Social post on June 1, 2026. Trump linked the suggestion to a news report stating that Canada entered a technical recession on May 29, marking the country's first economic dip of this kind since 2020. The post was reshared by U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra.

Canadian political leaders responded with strong rejections of the proposal. Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated that Canada is not for sale, while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre dismissed the idea as ridiculous. Poilievre used the economic downturn to demand an emergency debate and held the current administration accountable for the recession.

Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged existing economic weaknesses and emphasized the need to correct strengths that had become weaknesses due to close ties with America. While Carney did not directly respond to Trump's specific comments, he stated that his government is focused on building a more independent Canadian economy.