During the holiday season of 2024, President-elect Donald Trump proposed that hockey icon Wayne Gretzky should rule Canada. This suggestion was part of his series of contentious remarks about the U.S.’s northern neighbor.
“I just left Wayne Gretzky, ‘The Great One’ as he is known in Ice Hockey circles,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He stated that he had proposed Gretzky for the post of Canadian Prime Minister and humorously added that he could soon be the “Governor of Canada.”
Trump showed faith in Gretzky’s hypothetical political prowess, writing “You wouldn’t even have to campaign,” and called for Canadians to “start a DRAFT WAYNE GRETZKY Movement. It would be so much fun to watch!”
His remarks about Gretzky, a Canadian native from Brantford, coincided with Trump’s ongoing discussion about the possibility of incorporating Canada as the 51st U.S. state. The issue arose during a November 30th, 2024, dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, where Trump proposed the idea of statehood following Trudeau’s concerns about Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on Canadian goods.
Canada’s recently appointed Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc attempted to dismiss Trump’s statehood remarks, stating, “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 proposed a 25% universal tariff on imports from both Canada and Mexico unless they bolster their border security measures. He argues that the U.S. has a trade deficit exceeding $100 billion with Canada and maintains that Canadian taxes could be cut by “more than 60%” if it became a U.S. state.
Trump’s Christmas Day posts also touched on international politics beyond Canada. He made unfounded claims about the Panama Canal, stating that “wonderful soldiers of China” are operating it “illegally.” He also expressed interest in Greenland, declaring it “needed by the United States for National Security purposes.”
Trump wrapped up his Christmas message by reflecting on the election, stating that it was the greatest in U.S. history. He expressed optimism, noting a bright future for the country and pledging to “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” in 26 days. He ended his message with a cheerful “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
Two key ministers from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, traveled to Palm Beach, Florida on Friday, December 27. They met with President-elect Donald Trump’s team to discuss border security and trade issues before the January 20 inauguration.
The Ministers’ trip followed dialogue between Trudeau and Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month. The focus was on Canada’s efforts to combat illegal migration and fentanyl trafficking, the measures in Canada’s Border Plan, and the potential negative effects of a 25% tariff on Canadian goods on both nations, as stated by Jean-Sébastien Comeau, Director of Communications for Minister LeBlanc.
The visit followed encouraging preliminary discussions with Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan. “The conversation I have in Canada, I couldn’t ask for a better conversation,” Homan stated in a December 19 interview with CTV’s Power Play. “Of course, actions have to follow, but I’m very optimistic from the conversation I had that we’re going to come up with a good border security plan.”
Canada recently unveiled a five-pillared approach to improve border security, backed by $1.3 billion in funding, though the specific allocations remain undefined. The meetings occurred as Trump continued to post about the possibility of Canada becoming the 51st state on social media.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday, January 6, following growing dissatisfaction with his leadership and the sudden departure of his finance minister, which highlighted escalating instability within his government.
Trudeau will remain in his role as prime minister until the Liberal Party selects a new leader. Parliament will be on pause until March 24 to give time for the party’s leadership race.
On social media, Trump again referred to Canada as the “51st state” and falsely claimed that Trudeau’s resignation was due to Canada’s dependence on U.S. subsidies for its economy.
Trudeau, initially praised for steering Canada back to its liberal roots after his 2015 election win, has seen his approval ratings plummet in recent years. This political crisis adds further challenges for the country during an already tough period.