Canadian minister says Trump was joking when he said Canada could become the 51st state
A Canadian minister who attended a dinner between President-elect Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Trump was joking when he suggested Canada become the 51st U.S. state
By ROB GILLIES
Published - Dec 03, 2024, 08:43 PM ET
Last Updated - Dec 16, 2024, 05:08 PM EST
TORONTO (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump was joking when he suggested Canada become the 51st U.S. state during a dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a Canadian minister who attended their recent dinner said Tuesday.
Fox News reported that Trump made the comment in response to Trudeau raising concerns that Trump's threatened tariffs on Canada would damage Canada's economy.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who attended the Friday dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, said Trump's comments were in jest.
“The president was telling jokes. The president was teasing us. It was, of course, on that issue, in no way a serious comment,” LeBlanc told reporters in Ottawa.
