Trump's Light-Hearted Jibe on Canada as 51st State Amidst Tariff Tensions

President-elect Donald Trump jokingly suggested that Canada could become the 51st US state during a social dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The remark came amidst discussions on potential US tariffs on Canadian products. Canadian officials emphasized the jesting nature of the comment and discussed border and trade concerns.

In a light-hearted moment during a recent dinner, President-elect Donald Trump suggested that Canada could become the 51st state of the United States. This comment, confirmed as a jest by Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, emerged despite underlying serious discussions about looming tariffs on Canadian exports.

During the dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed Trump's threatened tariffs and their potential impact on Canada. Trudeau aimed to highlight the differences between the Canadian and Mexican borders regarding drugs and migrants to sway Trump away from imposing the tariffs.

Despite a productive dialogue, there were no concrete assurances from Trump to withdraw the tariff threat. With Canada being a major trading partner and the largest source of several critical materials for the US, the economic stakes remain high, underlining the sensitivity of cross-border relations amid Trump's trade policies.

(With inputs from agencies.)