Days before Canada’s election, Trump says country would ‘cease to exist’ if not for US
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Canada would “cease to exist” if it weren’t for the United States – comments that came just days before Canadians are set to vote in an election dominated by Trump’s comments on the country’s economy and sovereignty.
Trump reinserted himself into Canada’s election during a signing ceremony inside the Oval Office, saying Canada “would cease to exist as a country” without the US buying goods from Canada.
“I have to be honest, as a state, it works great,” said Trump, who previously threatened to make the country the 51st state through economic coercion.
Trump reiterated his claim that the US doesn’t need anything from Canada – including cars and oil.
“We don’t really want Canada to make cars for us, to put it bluntly. We want to make our own cars,” Trump said.
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Trump presses ahead with 25% tariffs on imported cars, ratcheting up trade war
Trump presses ahead with 25% tariffs on imported cars, ratcheting up trade war
In recent weeks, Trump has dialled back his talk of Canada becoming the 51st state. He stopped saying it after a call with new Prime Minister Mark Carney last month.