Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was caught in an embarrassing hot mic panicking over President Donald Trump’s plan to turn Canada into the 51st state.
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| Image Credit: DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images |
The outgoing Canadian Prime Minister told business leaders in a closed-door meeting this week that Trump’s threats to absorb Canada into the US are “a real thing” and claimed they were meant to control the country’s mineral resources.
“I suggest that not only does the Trump administration know how many critical minerals we have, but that may be even why they keep talking about absorbing us and making us the 51st state,” Trudeau reportedly said.
🚨 HOT MIC: Trudeau is heard saying Trump is SERIOUS about annexing Canada.
— mistersunshinebaby (@mrsunshinebaby) February 7, 2025
Trudeau admits Canada might become the 51st state. pic.twitter.com/4b1PvAmH72
“They’re very aware of our resources, of what we have, and they very much want to be able to benefit from those.”
“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 added.
The remarks were reportedly spoken after Trudeau dismissed the media from the room to address business and labor leaders in a private meeting, but were mistakenly picked up by a loudspeaker.
Trudeau’s hot-mic moment ended only after he realized the error and ordered staff to turn off the loudspeaker.
One of the leaders in the room, Gil McGowan, the president of the Alberta Federation of Labor, confirmed on X that Trudeau made the remarks during the meeting.
“Yes, I can confirm that Trudeau said his assessment is that what Trump really wants is not action on fentanyl or immigration or even the trade deficit, what he really wants is to either dominate Canada or take it outright,” McGowan wrote.
Yes, I can confirm that Trudeau said his assessment is that what Trump really wants is not action on fentanyl or immigration or even the trade deficit — what he really wants is to either dominate Canada or take it outright. Tariffs are a tactic towards that end. https://t.co/leWzxYrnd4
— Gil McGowan (@gilmcgowan) February 7, 2025
This comes weeks after Trudeau issued a forceful statement to Trump that “there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell” that Canada becomes part of the U.S.
But given his recent off-the-books remarks, Trudeau appears to not believe his own blustery words and harbors real concern Trump could indeed absorb Canada into the U.S.
Trump has suggested turning Canada into the 51st state would be good for both Canada at the U.S. because America “can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat.”