During the Christmas holiday, President-elect Donald Trump proposed that ice hockey icon Wayne Gretzky should become Canada’s prime minister, adding to his recent string of controversial remarks regarding the United States’ northern neighbor.
“I just met with Wayne Gretzky, otherwise known as ‘The Great One’ in Ice Hockey circles,” Trump posted on Truth Social, stating that he proposed Gretzky run for Canadian prime minister, and teasingly added “Soon to be known as the Governor of Canada.”
Trump expressed optimism about Gretzky’s potential success in an election, stating “You wouldn’t even have to campaign,” and urged Canadians to “start a DRAFT WAYNE GRETZKY Movement. It would be so much fun to watch!”
Trump’s comments about Gretzky, a native of Brantford, Canada, are part of his ongoing discourse surrounding the idea of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state. During a November 30th dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, Trump suggested that Canada could become a state following Trudeau’s concerns over Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on Canadian imports.
Trump’s comments about potential statehood were played down by Canada’s newly appointed Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who stated, “The president was telling jokes. The president was teasing us. It was, of course, on that issue, in no way a serious comment.”
Trump has threatened a 25% across-the-board tariff on imports from both Canada and Mexico unless they bolster their border security measures. Trump alleges that the U.S. has a trade deficit exceeding $100 billion with Canada, and posits that Canadian taxes could be reduced by “more than 60%” if it became a U.S. state.
Trump’s Christmas Day posts also included unfounded claims about the Panama Canal, stating that “wonderful soldiers of China” are operating it “illegally.” He expressed interest in Greenland, asserting that it is “needed by the United States for National Security purposes.”
Trump wrapped up his Christmas messages with reflections on the election, stating “We had the Greatest Election in the History of our Country, a bright light is now shining over the U.S.A. and, in 26 days, we will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
On December 27, two key members of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, traveled to Palm Beach, Florida, to meet with President-elect Donald Trump’s team. The meeting focused on border security and trade concerns in anticipation of the January 20 inauguration.
Joly and LeBlanc visited the U.S. to continue conversations begun between Trudeau and Trump at Mar-a-Lago the previous month. “The Ministers intend to focus on Canada’s efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking and illegal migration and the measures outlined in Canada’s Border Plan, as well as the negative impacts that the imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian goods would have on both Canada and the United States,” said Jean-Sébastien Comeau, LeBlanc’s communications director, prior to the meeting.
Following promising initial discussions with Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, the Canadian government recently announced a plan to enhance border security, backed by $1.3 billion in funding, although specific allocations remain unclear. These meetings occur as Trump continues to comment on social media about the prospect of Canada becoming the 51st state.
The Prime Minister’s Office has yet to directly respond to Trump’s repeated propositions about Canadian statehood.