Donald Trump is ramping up the pressure on Canada in a way only he can—by turning the threat of global war into a sales pitch.
Despite multiple rejections, the U.S. president is once again pushing for Canada to become the 51st state. This time, he's tying the offer to access to America's brand-new $175 billion missile defense system, the so-called Golden Dome.
And the price tag for staying independent? A jaw-dropping $61 billion.
Trump seems to be using the rising fear of World War III as a bargaining chip, suggesting that Canada could tap into the protection of his Golden Dome system for free—if it agrees to become the US' 51st state.
The president unveiled the $175 billion missile defense project last week, claiming it would defend the U.S. from potential 'foreign missile attacks'.
In a blunt message posted to Truth Social, Trump declared: "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!"
What is the Golden Dome?
Announced just last week, the Golden Dome is a high-tech defense system that Trump claims will shield the U.S. from foreign missile attacks. It’s expected to include both ground-based and space-based components, and he’s promised it’ll be operational before his term ends.
But while Americans get the protection for free, their northern neighbors will have to cough up a serious chunk of change—unless they agree to statehood.
Canada isn't buying it
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney isn’t even entertaining the idea.
"He was expressing a desire," Carney told Sky News, brushing off Trump's annexation talk. "He'd shifted from the expectation to a desire. He was also coming from a place where he recognised that that wasn't going to happen.
"Does he still muse about it? Perhaps. Is it ever going to happen? No. Never."
Carney also previously shut Trump down with a crystal-clear stance: "Not for sale, ever."
He hasn’t minced words about his country’s sovereignty, especially after UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer invited Trump for a second state visit. Carney said Canadians "weren't impressed," pointing to ongoing concerns over independence.
Royal backup arrives
In a move that couldn’t be more symbolic, Carney welcomed King Charles III to Canada in the middle of all this drama. The royal visit was timed perfectly to reinforce the country’s identity and autonomy.
King Charles touched on the topic during his address to Parliament, saying: "Today, Canada faces another critical moment. 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."
The monarch also backed Carney's broader vision for the country’s future, stating: "Canada is facing challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetimes."
He praised the efforts to create "a new economic and security relationship between Canada and the US, rooted in mutual respect and founded on common interests."
Is the offer even real?
While Trump claims Canada is mulling over the statehood deal, Carney and the government say otherwise. Still, the U.S. president keeps dangling the Golden Dome over their heads, packaging national defense like it's a discount club membership.
Whether this is just political theater or an actual diplomatic play remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure—Trump knows how to keep the spotlight firmly on himself.