Canadian Politician Labels Trump's '51st State' Remarks as 'Act of War'

A Canadian MP has escalated tensions with the U.S. by calling President Trump’s repeated references to Canada as the ‘51st state’ an act of war.

In a fiery response to President Donald Trump’s ongoing rhetoric, Canadian Member of Parliament Charlie Angus declared the comments to be an ‘act of war.’ Trump has frequently suggested that Canada should become the 51st state of the U.S., a notion that has stirred significant controversy north of the border. This tension was further exacerbated by the U.S. imposing a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, set to begin on April 2.

Angus’s remarks came during an interview with the MeidasTouch Network, where he criticized the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s response to Trump’s comments. Rubio had previously explained that the ‘51st state’ idea stemmed from a conversation between Trump and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. According to Rubio, Trudeau had expressed concerns about Canada’s survival as a nation-state under U.S. tariffs, prompting Trump’s suggestion that Canada join the U.S.

The situation has led to retaliatory measures from Canada, including a boycott of U.S. products, which Angus claims is ‘punishing’ to the American economy. The boycott follows a reported 10% drop in Canadian travel to the U.S., which is estimated to have cost 140,000 jobs.

Trump, in a recent appearance on Fox News, defended his stance by stating that the U.S. subsidizes Canada to the tune of $200 billion annually and questioned the need for Canadian imports like cars and lumber. The comments have drawn sharp criticism from Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney, who labeled Trump’s 51st state idea as ‘crazy.’

As tensions continue to rise between the two nations, the international community watches closely to see how this diplomatic spat will unfold, with significant economic implications hanging in the balance.