President Donald J. Trump has reiterated his ambition of bringing both Canada and Gaza under U.S. control. The comments emerged during an exchange with reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled to attend Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, February 9.
Trump suggested again that Canada could become America’s 51st state, saying, “I think Canada would be much better off being a 51st state. Because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada, and I’m not going to let that happen, it’s too much. Why are we paying $200 billion a year essentially in subsidy to Canada? Now if they are a 51st state, I don’t mind doing it.”
Trump justified his stance by citing Canada’s $200 billion annual economic loss, stating that the U.S. “subsidizes” its northern neighbor.
On the Middle East, Trump alluded to potential U.S. control over Gaza amid ongoing conflict negotiations involving Israel and Hamas. Reporting to correspondents on Air Force One, he expressed commitment to “owning” Gaza, proposing reconstruction could be shared with Middle Eastern countries.