Could Canada be 51?
President Donald Trump claimed on TRUTH Social this week that Canada is “considering” an offer to join the United States as the 51st state in exchange for free access to the U.S.’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system.
This assertion has been met with firm denials from Canadian officials, who maintain that Canada is not for sale.
“I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State,” Trump wrote on TRUTH Social.
“They are considering the offer!” he claimed.
Could this be another instance of Trump trolling Canada? Maybe.
The “Golden Dome” is a $175 billion missile defense initiative proposed by the Trump administration, aiming to deploy U.S. weapons in space to intercept potential airstrikes before launch. Trump has stated that while the system would cost Canada $61 billion if it remains a separate nation, it would be provided at no cost should Canada become a U.S. state.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has repeatedly said Canada is not for sale.
Additionally, King Charles III, who is recognized as Canada’s sovereign, gave a speech before the Canadian Parliament on Tuesday in which he knocked Trump’s idea of purchasing the northern neighbor.
“Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away,” he said. “And that, by staying true to Canadian values, Canada can build new alliances and a new economy that serves all Canadians.”
During the initial announcement, Trump said that the dome will cost $175 billion to build and is expected to be fully operational within three years.
He also said Canada would be included in its safety net.
“Canada has called us, and they want to be a part of it. So we’ll be talking to them; they want to have protection also,” Trump said at the time.
According to reporting from Politico, Trump may ultimately need Canada to have the most effective missile defense system.
“Canada would need to play a pivotal role in Trump’s signature, potentially $500 billion effort to build the so-called Golden Dome, according to U.S. officials and experts, with Ottawa providing radars and airspace needed to track incoming missiles in the Arctic,” Politico reports.
“And while Trump insists the country wants to participate, Canadian leaders appear more tepid.”
“There’s a lot we just don’t know,” said Shuvaloy Majumdar, a Conservative member of Canada’s parliament. “There’s a lot that needs to be revealed about how the economic and security partnership with America and Canada will unfold.”
More over at Fox News:
Trump claims Canada 'considering' offer of free Golden Dome in exchange for becoming 51st state https://t.co/Wczlspp65z
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 28, 2025
