Former U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his desire for Canada to become the 51st state, claiming the U.S. loses $200 billion annually in trade with its northern neighbor. In a Super Bowl interview with Fox News, Trump insisted Canada would be “better off” as a U.S. state, a notion Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged as a genuine concern, citing America’s interest in Canada’s natural resources.
Trump further criticized Canada’s reliance on U.S. military protection, suggesting the country is not economically viable without U.S. trade. He also maintained that neither Canada nor Mexico had done enough to prevent the tariffs he plans to impose once a 30-day extension expires.
Initially set at 25 percent on all imports, with Canadian energy taxed at 10 percent, the tariffs were temporarily paused after the two nations took steps to address U.S. border security and drug trafficking concerns.
Aboard Air Force One en route to the Super Bowl, Trump announced that he would impose a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, including those from Canada and Mexico, and introduce reciprocal tariffs later in the week. His remarks reflected a broader push for protectionist trade policies.
The interview also marked Trump’s return to the tradition of presidential Super Bowl appearances. He became the first sitting president to attend the game in person and signed a proclamation renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America."
Trump also defended Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has sparked concern for shutting down federal agencies. Praising Musk’s efforts, Trump suggested that the Department of Education and the military would be next in his cost-cutting campaign, predicting billions in savings.
On a lighter note, he addressed his viral dance moves, admitting, “I try and walk off sometimes without dancing, and I can’t. I have to dance.”
Source: AP
Bd-pratidin English/Fariha Nowshin Chinika
