Liberal minister says Trump was joking when he suggested Canada become 51st state
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$1 per week for 24 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.75/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Winnipeg Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*$1 will be added to your next bill. After your 4 weeks access is complete your rate will increase by $0.00 a X percent off the regular rate.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/12/2024 (306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
OTTAWA – President-elect Donald Trump was joking when he suggested Canada become the 51st U.S. state during a dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Florida on Friday, said a Liberal minister who attended the meeting.
Fox News reported on Monday that Trump made the comment in response to the Canadians raising concerns that tariffs would hurt their economy.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says the incoming president’s suggestion was said in jest.
“The president was telling jokes, the president was teasing us. It was of course on that issue in no way a serious comment,” LeBlanc told reporters on his way into a cabinet meeting.
He described the meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate as a lighthearted social evening.
“We had a discussion on trade issues, on border security that was very productive. But the fact that there’s a warm, cordial relationship between the two leaders and the president is able to joke like that for us was a positive thing,” LeBlanc said.
Five days before the dinner Trump threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico unless the two countries stop migrants and illicit drugs such as fentanyl from entering the U.S.
LeBlanc said on Monday that the group discussed the impact of tariffs on Americans during the meeting, including that imposing tariffs on Canada would hurt the U.S. economy as well.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2024.
Related Articles
Tories propose ‘Team Manitoba’ to take on Trump’s tariffs
Advertisement Advertise With Us