US President Donald Trump has privately acknowledged that Canada is unlikely to become part of the United States, despite previous suggestions of annexation. According to an excerpt from an upcoming book by British journalist Robert Hardman, Trump conceded that Canada’s 200 years of history and national identity make such a move improbable.
The revelation comes from an interview Hardman conducted with Trump earlier this year, during which the journalist pointed out that annexing Canada would upset British King Charles III, who is also Canada’s head of state. Trump reportedly paused before admitting, “You can’t deal with that in three-and-a-half years. I guess it’s not going to happen.”
This marks a notable shift from Trump’s earlier rhetoric, in which he repeatedly floated the idea of absorbing Canada as the 51st US state. He has previously described the US-Canada border as “artificial” and claimed that the US subsidizes Canada’s economy by $200 billion annually, suggesting annexation would be more feasible.
Despite his respect for the British royal family, Trump reportedly criticized Canadian politicians as “terrible,” accusing them of being “nice to my face and then they say bad things behind my back.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has consistently rejected any notion of Canada joining the US, stating, “We will never, ever, in any way, shape, or form, be part of the United States.”
The excerpt, published by the Daily Mail, is from Hardman’s book Elizabeth II. In Private. In Public. The Inside Story, set for release this week. The book offers insights into Trump’s views on international relations and his interactions with global leaders.
While Trump’s comments signal a retreat from his annexation ambitions, the episode underscores the complexities of US-Canada relations and the enduring significance of Canada’s sovereignty and historical ties to the British monarchy.
