In a bold statement on Tuesday, President Donald Trump reportedly announced that Canada is “considering” the prospect of becoming the 51st state in exchange for free participation in his controversial Golden Dome missile defense initiative.
The proposal, which Trump revealed last week, outlines a draft architecture for the Golden Dome, a project estimated to cost around $175 billion and designed to shield the United States from hypersonic, ballistic, and cruise missile threats.
The president claimed that Canada would need to pay approximately $61 billion to join the program while maintaining its status as a separate nation.
However, he asserted that if Canada opted to become a U.S. state, it could participate at no cost.
“I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 billion if they remain a separate, but unequal, nation, but will cost zero dollars if they become our cherished 51st state,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added, “They are considering the offer!”
The Golden Dome aims to be a revolutionary defense system, with Trump asserting that it will be capable of intercepting missiles launched from anywhere in the world, even from space.
He framed the initiative as a continuation of President Ronald Reagan’s vision for missile defense, claiming it would forever eliminate the missile threat to the American homeland.
Trump expressed confidence that the program would be “fully operational” by the end of his term.
Despite Trump’s assertions, Canadian leaders have largely dismissed the idea of statehood. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office confirmed ongoing discussions with the Trump administration regarding the Golden Dome, emphasizing a desire to negotiate a comprehensive security and economic relationship with the U.S. “Canadians gave the prime minister a strong mandate to negotiate… strengthening NORAD and related initiatives such as the Golden Dome,” said Carney spokeswoman Audrey Champoux.
Carney has previously made it clear that Canada would never entertain the notion of becoming a U.S. state.
During a visit to the Oval Office earlier this year, he told Trump, “As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale.”
He likened Canada’s status to that of “Buckingham Palace,” reinforcing the sentiment that the country is not for sale but open to partnership.
As the discussions unfold, the initial $25 billion for the Golden Dome project has been included in a House budget bill that recently passed.
The situation underscores the complex dynamics of U.S.-Canada relations and the differing visions both leaders have for their nations’ futures amid evolving security threats.
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