Hot Mic Captures Justin Trudeau Warn Of Trump ‘Absorbing’ Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday told business and labor leaders that Donald Trump’s annexation proposal is the “real” deal as the American president has threatened to make the neighboring country the 51st U.S. state, according to remarks caught on a hot mic.

“They’re very aware of our resources, of what we have, and they very much want to be able to benefit from those,” said Trudeau, whose comments on U.S. interest in Canada’s critical minerals were captured when he thought the media “left” the room, per CNN’s Paula Newton.

He continued, “But Mr. Trump has it in mind that one of the easiest ways of doing that is absorbing our country. And it is a real thing.”

Trudeau’s comments come after Trump threatened to hit America’s northern neighbor with 25% tariffs, a move that sparked counter-tariffs from both Canadian officials and leaders in Mexico — which was also subjected to U.S. president’s threats.

Trump would later step back from the threats, delaying tariffs by 30 days in Canada and Mexico after both countries signed onto furthering efforts in law and border enforcement.

Trump had pointed to fentanyl coming from Canada into the U.S. as a reason for his tariffs threat, despite a minimal amount of the deadly synthetic drug seized at the northern border.

The U.S. president has entertained making Canada the 51st state since late last year, when he met with Trudeau at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

The Canadian prime minister told CNN’s Jake Tapper early last month that Trump was getting people to be “somewhat distracted” by his comments as they would move away from talk of tariffs on oil, gas and electricity.

Newton, in her reporting on Trudeau’s remarks from Friday, said the Canadian government believes U.S. officials will be “driving a very hard bargain economically” so that Trump’s 51st state proposal is the “only option left.”

Trudeau, in public comments on Friday, said Canada must be thinking “tactically and strategically” on Trump’s threats as it looks to steer clear of future tariffs.