President Donald Trump continues his push to make Canada the 51st state. This time, he is offering the possibility of protecting Canada under the Golden Dome missile defense shield, which he promoted on May 20.
Trump previously announced that his sweeping new spending proposal — what he called “one big, beautiful spending bill” — allocates $25 billion for building the missile shield, which he says will “protect the homeland.”
“I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State. They are considering the offer!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, May 27.
How did the king address US-Canada relations?
The post came the same day that the United Kingdom’s King Charles III delivered a speech to Canada’s Parliament — a symbolic show of support for Canadian sovereignty. As head of state in both the United Kingdom and Canada, Charles offered a pointed reminder of Canada’s independence.
“Today, Canada faces another critical moment,” he said. “Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear and ones which the government is determined to protect.”
While the king made no direct reference to Trump or the Golden Dome, he acknowledged the evolving Canada-U.S. relationship.
“The prime minister and president of the United States, for example, have begun defining a new economic and security relationship between Canada and the United States rooted in mutual respect and founded on common interests to deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations,” he said.
Charles also highlighted Canada’s plans to rebuild and rearm its military.
Has there been any reaction from Canada’s prime minister?
According to the CBC, Prime Minister Mark Carney is preparing to sign a major European defense rearmament plan by July 1. The plan aims to reduce the country’s dependence on the United States for military protection.
President Trump hosted Carney at the White House on May 6. At the time, the prime minister emphasized that Canada is not for sale, while Trump insisted that he never says never.
In an interview with CBC on Tuesday, Carney added that 75 cents of every dollar Canada spends on national defense currently goes to the United States — something he called “not smart.”
contributed to this report.
