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submitted 1 week ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

Summary

Donald Trump reiterated his claim that Canada would be better as the U.S.’s 51st state, citing trade imbalances and lower taxes.

He also announced new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, including from Canada, despite a recent 30-day reprieve.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has not formally responded, but a government source said they await official confirmation.

Trump criticized Canada’s defense spending and border security, despite recent Canadian commitments.

Canada previously retaliated against similar tariffs in 2018 before a 2019 trade deal resolved the dispute.

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[-] Stamets@lemmy.world 217 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Most of us would rather die than ever become an American. Want a good example of the mood in Canada summed up against our 'ally to the south' as of late? Well let me just personally put it this way. You, the United States, are a fucking joke.

To quote an author, Stephen Marche, who spoke on the CBC here in Canada recently... The bold is mine but the emphasis really should be placed there anyway.

They've [The US] come off of 70 years of failed wars of occuption. One thing you have to understand about these comments is that they come from a profound weakness that America is really unfamiliar with. And Canada is unfamiliar with America being this weak. They can't hold Baghdad, I'm not sure why they think they can hold Montreal. But they're also being kicked out of Niger and you know they are weaker than they've ever been in a lot of ways. They are extremely fragile as a country. They have absolutely no solidarity, they have absolutely no unity. They are in the middle of dismantling their administrative state and war is a is a test, fundamentally, of the strength of the administrative state. So I think you should take this about as seriously as you would take the ramblings of a crack addict on the subway. I.e, you pay attention to it and get out of the way and you do what you can but, you know, this is not something to be treated like an actual... this is not something to be thought about. It's just the ramblings of lunacy.

[...]

I think he's [Trump] actually managed to make Canadians patriotic for the first time since I can remember. You have to say, he's the president of the United States but the United States is crumbling. Institutions are falling apart and 'Who the United States is at this moment'... that's not a meaningful phrase. You have to ask yourself which America are you talking about, which institutions are you talking about, because they are not under the guidance of anyone, right?

[...]

All he [Trump] can do is destroy. The American stock market is falling, even the threat of this [tarrifs on Canadian goods] has caused inflation to raise it's head. The American people fired everyone who has caused gas prices to rise almost immediately. They can tolerate almost anything from their political class. War crimes, whatever, but increase gas prices they go crazy for. So it's just very important to understand that this is spoken from a position of profound weakness.

[...]

America has never been an uglier place to become a part of. I mean who would wanna be American at this point in history. They're about to start killing each other. There is no question that there is a Canadian rejection of American values, the American government and Amreica itself. Why wouldn't you reject these people? They're awful.

Watch it for yourself here.

[-] pageflight@lemmy.world 104 points 1 week ago

What a deservedly scathing review of the US of A.

[-] Stamets@lemmy.world 73 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

And of most of the people. That "Why wouldn't you reject these people. They're awful." line is based on the fact that a majority of Americans allowed Trump to become elected. Either through actively voting for him or whatever excuse they want to use for not voting at all against outright fascism. First time he was elected an argument could be made that the people who didn't vote or who voted for him were misled. At this point? It just became abundantly clear that our neighbors to the south genuinely don't seem to care about anything or harbor a deep amount of hatred or ignorance within themselves.

Review should have gone a bit harder in my opinion. It isn't just the government or the country itself that is an embarassment. Most of the people are too.

And let me be abundantly clear. If whoever is reading this voted for anyone other than Kamala, or did not vote at all, yes. You're the awful people we're talking about. You should really hate yourself as much as we hate you.

[-] Carmakazi@lemmy.world 38 points 1 week ago

As George Carlin said, selfish ignorant people elect selfish ignorant leaders.

Personally, talking to anyone about politics here is unnerving. Most people are in this fog where current events are only an ephemeral storyline that they tune into periodically like it's a TV drama. Never a big deal, never anything that could affect them or those they care for. It's a position of privilege, frankly. Maybe some of them are just that dumb. I think a lot of people, though, are scared, either of their ignorance or their powerlessness, so they simply avoid being involved or educated out of discomfort. That's probably the nicest interpretation I have for my countrymen's behavior.

Otherwise you are spot on. The uniquely tasteless brand of brash American chauvinism that we were globally lampooned for during the Invasion of Iraq has metastasized. We are long overdue for being knocked down a peg. I wish I could say the fallout from this painful reckoning would stay within our borders, but it most likely won't. We have a very uncertain year ahead of us, let alone the next five years.

[-] Xanthobilly@lemmy.world 22 points 1 week ago

About half of America would join Canada in fighting this tyranny. I think it would be a grave mistake for Trump’s presidency to follow through on these threats.

[-] masterspace@lemmy.ca 23 points 1 week ago

No they fucking wouldn't. They would sit at home and watch the Superbowl and clap along like they are right now.

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[-] OppaGundamStyle@discuss.tchncs.de 17 points 1 week ago

Is that the same half that rose up to fight it at home? Because I must have missed that part.

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[-] Guy6758@lemmy.world 18 points 1 week ago

Really looking forward to the day the orange buffoon drops

[-] meco03211@lemmy.world 17 points 1 week ago

To be fair, Bagdad is half a world away. The logistics of maintaining something there is astronomically higher than in the same hemisphere, let alone our next door neighbor.

That being said I'm on team annexation... of Minnesota. Please take us!

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[-] TommySoda@lemmy.world 85 points 1 week ago

Cherished my ass. You've done nothing but disrespect them since you were elected. The only thing you want is their resources so you can hoard a few 100 mil before you kick the bucket in a few years. Which I find completely ridiculous because it's not like you get to take money into the afterlife, if there even is one.

[-] Stamets@lemmy.world 28 points 1 week ago

Resources is definitely true but it also concerned me a bit that the three countries he targetted (Panama, Greenland, Canada) are all countries that control major trade routes. Panama shouldn't need to be explained but Canada has St. Lawrence Seaway that goes into the Great Lakes and Canada also controls (with Greenland to an extent) the Northwest Passage that is becoming more navigatable every year.

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[-] ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world 72 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

An invasion of Canada would result in so many Americans defecting and fighting for Canada or not cooperating and probably a Civil War when the west coast states (and possibly New England) secede. I imagine the military leadership would sooner stage a coup than cooperate and invade/occupy Canada. Plus, the entire world would side with Canada.

It’s the ramblings of a senile buffoon. There’s absolutely no one else calling for this (or invading Greenland/Panama) and no support from 80% of Americans — and close to 100% with people of fighting age. Even most MAGA idiots are isolationists.

And don’t forget, basically every major U.S. city is extremely blue. When you look at a red state/blue state map, remember that it’s actually an urban/rural divide. Port cities are especially blue. (Look at Louisiana for an example. A deep red state but Orleans Parish went 82% for Harris/Walz. Good luck winning any war with 90% of the port cities in full revolt.)

[-] ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world 32 points 1 week ago

It's horrifying that I could see Greenland being his Poland and Canada being his France.

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[-] meowmeowbeanz@sh.itjust.works 63 points 1 week ago

The 51st state? Hard pass. Canada’s healthcare system alone would collapse under the weight of your insulin price gouging. Cherished state? More like a hostile takeover by a country that thinks avocado toast is a personality trait.

Those 25% tariffs? Cute. We survived your 2018 tantrum—maple syrup exports outlived your presidency. Funny how “trade imbalances” vanish when your golf resorts rely on Canadian lumber.

Defense spending critiques from a guy who tried to lease Alaska back to Russia? Bold move. Our border’s secure enough to keep your conspiracy theorists from storming Parliament Hill.

Stay mad about the poutine tariffs, though.

[-] shawn1122@lemm.ee 17 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

One thing I despise about the US (gun violence and healthcare inequitability aside) is how it measures the value of everything in money.

It's culture is a commodification machine. Nothing can just be beautiful for the sake of being beautiful, it has to be made into a side hustle somehow.

Most Americans are married to their jobs and have little work life balance relative to Canadians and Europeans.

There is a remarkable amount of mental gymnastics done by people trying to gaslight themselves into thinking this is what they want, even though most would be happier and healthier with more time off.

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[-] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 61 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Hey, uh, if he wants another state…

What about Puerto Rico?

I'd love to hear the excuse against that vs. Greenland and Canada.

[-] smeenz@lemmy.nz 33 points 1 week ago

They're not even hiding the racism any more.

[-] shawn1122@lemm.ee 19 points 1 week ago

Theres a reason why he isn't making the same threats against Mexico.

There's a reason he wants to resettle Palestinians before redeveloping Gaza.

[-] TheObviousSolution@lemm.ee 16 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Too latino for him, not enough resources.

[-] fox2263@lemmy.world 59 points 1 week ago

He doesn’t treat his own states any good why would Canada fare any better

[-] skankhunt42@lemmy.ca 57 points 1 week ago

I'm so tired of this shit.

[-] MonsterMonster@lemmy.world 44 points 1 week ago

I'm amazed at how quickly the US has come close to being on the brink of becoming a rogue state.

[-] Saleh@feddit.org 23 points 1 week ago

The US has been a rogue state for decades. Just that they used to be smart enough to keep some countries in the empire aligned without direct military force.

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[-] eronth@lemmy.world 36 points 1 week ago

This is going to be the weirdest part of any history book. People reading and trying to understand why the US suddenly turned on and invaded their close ally of Canada in a failed annexation attempt immediately after watching Russia struggle a similar (though less surprising) annexation of Ukraine, which the US helped fight against.

[-] AgentRocket@feddit.org 16 points 1 week ago

Not that weird, since we've had similar things happen in Europe in the 1930s. I'm mostly wondering, what's going to be Canada's Stalingrad.

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[-] ALilOff@lemmy.world 35 points 1 week ago

Anyone making “thanks trump” stickers for when our gas prices go through the roof and stick it at gas stations like they did with Biden

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[-] JayDee@lemmy.sdf.org 33 points 1 week ago

He's currently trying to get a 51st state (Canada would need to be at least 6 or more, in all honesty), but it looks like he's at risk of losing some states from where I'm sitting.

[-] Damionsipher@lemmy.world 37 points 1 week ago

The only way Canada would join the union would be as an occupied territory, and we would do everything possible to fuck shit up from within.

[-] shiroininja@lemmy.world 31 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

If he tried to invade Canada, I think he’d quickly be fighting a war on two fronts, because sane Americans like myself and others that are organizing aren’t going to just let that happen. Hopefully, if half our military hasn’t lost their minds too, they’ll join us.

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[-] cultsuperstar@lemmy.world 31 points 1 week ago

Why would Canada join the US, only to be rewarded with a shitty health care system and a low national minimum wage?

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[-] buzz86us@lemmy.world 30 points 1 week ago

What's in it for Canada? Expensive ineffective healthcare? Why would they go for this?

[-] azimir@lemmy.ml 21 points 1 week ago

Reduced quality of life? Greater danger of being shot in a school? Shorter life expectancy? Lower quality food? And imperial president instead of a democratic one?

I'm not seeing the upsides for Canada.

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[-] Hikermick@lemmy.world 29 points 1 week ago

This man shits worthless click bait out of his mouth daily, why does media fall for it?

[-] kandoh@reddthat.com 21 points 1 week ago

Fall for it? They're grateful he's made their job insanely easy. They used yo have to investigate things and then risk running afoul of the powerful. Now they just have to print whatever the latest outrageous bullshit comes out of Donald's mouth and reap the clicks and ad dollars.

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[-] ninjabard@lemmy.world 27 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

So, is the US going to nationalize its health care to match Canada's?

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[-] yarr@feddit.nl 27 points 1 week ago

This plan leaves out the fact that the majority of Canadians don't want to join. They may have their challenges right now, but there are some things they aren't willing to give up, like nationalized health care and national identity. I suspect many Canadians will fight to the death over this, the same way Americans would fight if forced to join Canada. They are our neighbors and that's about as close as people want to get.

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[-] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 26 points 1 week ago

I unapologetically woke up this morning hoping to read that someone took a successful shot at him during the Superbowl.

Put me on whatever list you wish.

[-] adarza@lemmy.ca 23 points 1 week ago

does he have a deal with putin?

"lemme have canada and greenland, and the canal, and i'll let you take eastern europe back--starting with ukraine and nato will not be in your way"

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[-] owenfromcanada@lemmy.world 23 points 1 week ago
[-] troyunrau@lemmy.ca 19 points 1 week ago

Canada wouldn't be allowed to vote, presuming elections still existed. It's just expansionism at the end of the Republic.

[-] TwinkleToes@lemmy.ca 18 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

This crazy old poopy pants manchild is serious in that he wants to blackmail people into giving him something for nothing. Thankfully, he's so fucking stupid, and has created a cesspool of asskissers around him who are incentivized to suck up rather than actually DO anything.

He talks, says a lot of crazy shit, then backs down, having done damage and not actually gotten anything. Like being in a shortbus with a hormonal chimp with a chainsaw. We're all just going to have to wait until his inevitable toilet stroke, and then watch the whole thing collapse.

[-] Corno@lemm.ee 18 points 1 week ago

If I have to fight for my country and defend it, then I'll happily do so.

[-] generic_computers@lemmy.zip 17 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

How would a whole country be a single state? Wouldn't it become 13 states (or however many provinces/territories Canada has)?

[-] TheRealKuni@midwest.social 24 points 1 week ago

No no, that would give too many senators to people who understand the value of universal healthcare. Can’t have that.

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[-] DaddleDew@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago

My grandfather was in Alsace-Lorraine during the German occupation in WWII. Thanks to a warning from a neighboring village he barely escaped being drafted into the Nazi army and had to go into hiding, surviving in the forest on his own until the end of the war. He never admitted whether he ever had to kill someone or not. But my mother remembers hearing him scream every night from the nightmares.

Now I'm in Canada and I'm wondering if this kind of thing is going to become a family tradition.

[-] masterspace@lemmy.ca 16 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

America really wants to invite a Canadian sized IRA on themselves, I suppose they can fuck around and find out.

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[-] TheObviousSolution@lemm.ee 16 points 1 week ago

You will be enslaved cherishingly.

[-] DicJacobus@lemmy.world 15 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Stop giving this foolishness air.

Make preparations on the side. But Stop giving it public attention.

also understand that Canada would never be a state. It would be a generation or two of Forceful and violent assimilation before any region was given "statehood". For everyone else, it's poverty, military occupation, and slavery. Which would mean Insurgency and War.

Any Canadian advocating for this is either terminally online and uneducated, living life off article title opinions. Or they are functionally a traitor/quisling/5th columnist and a threat to their neighbors, and should kept an eye of. And if things really did go "there". they'd be the ones taken out first by resistance.

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this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2025
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