Trump returns to '51st state' rhetoric in speech to U.S. military officials
Trump returns to '51st state' rhetoric in speech to U.S. military officials
Trump returns to '51st state' rhetoric in speech to U.S. military officials
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump returned to his talk of annexing Canada during an unprecedented speech to top military leaders on Tuesday.
"Canada called me a couple of weeks ago, they want to be part of it, to which I said, 'Well, why don't you just join our country. You become 51 — become the 51st state — and you get it for free,'" Trump told the assembled officials.
"So, I don't know if that made a big impact, but it does make a lot of sense."
Trump also claimed Canada is having "a hard time up there" because "as you know, with tariffs, everyone's coming into our country." The president then boasted about investment leaving Canada and other countries and going into the United States, pointing to automobile plants.