Trump accuses Canada of wanting 'benefits of being a State, without being one' amid trade war
The Hill · C · trust 44/100
Comments: by Tara Suter - 08/23/26 8:23 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Tara Suter - 08/23/26 8:23 AM ET Comments: Link copied NOW PLAYING President Trump on Sunday claimed that Canada desires the “benefits of being a state, without being one” amid trade tensions between the U.S. and its northern neighbor.
“Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!! They have also charged our great farmers, for many years, massive amounts of Tariffs. No more!!!” the president said in an early morning Truth Social post.
On Saturday , Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that his country would implement retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. starting on Sep. 8, responding to the Trump administration’s new 50 percent tariffs which just went into effect.
During a press conference, Carney said that Canada would “match Washington’s new tariffs dollar for dollar in order to protect Canadian workers, farmers, families and businesses.”
The prime minister said Ottawa would offer additional details about the retaliatory tariffs in the “coming days,” with the tariffs applying to goods including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper and electronics.
Carney emphasized during the press conference that his government takes “this step reluctantly.”
Trump has previously discussed adding Canada as the U.S.’s 51st state, but Canadian leaders have repeatedly pushed back on the idea. During the president’s second term, he has also gotten into tariff fights with Ottawa, souring relations with a reliable American ally.
Earlier this year, Trump quipped about Carney being the “future Governor of Canada,” bringing back an insult previously used against the prime minister’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau.
“I’m working with Governor Gretchen Whitmer [D-Mich.] on trying to save The Great Lakes from the rather violent and destructive Asian Carp, which is rapidly taking over Lake Michigan, and all of the beautiful surrounds,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post at the time.
“I’ll be asking other Governors to join into this fight, including those of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, New York and, of course, the future Governor of Canada, Mark Carney, who I know will be happy to contribute to this worthy cause,” he added.
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