U.S. President Donald Trump says that without the support of the United States, Canada would “cease to exist,” and online, many people are not impressed.
Trump made the remarks to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, following a signing ceremony.
“It’s costing us $200 billion a year to support Canada,” the American president told reporters at the White House.
“We can make our own cars, we have more energy than they do, we have more energy than anyone in the world. We don’t need their lumber, we have a lot of lumber. We have a lot of everything that they sell us,” he continued. “But in particular, cars.”
Trump said that he does not want to bring cars made in Canada into the U.S., and wants to bring more of the automotive industry south of the border.
“When I put tariffs on Canada, they’re paying 25 per cent. That could go up, in terms of cars,” Trump said.
“When we put tariffs on all we’re doing is, we’re saying we don’t want your cars, in all due respect, we want to make our own cars,” he continued, adding that the U.S. will soon be producing vehicles in record numbers due to automotive plants currently being built in the U.S.
Earlier this month, Trump implemented 25 per cent tariffs on the import of all vehicles coming into the U.S. This includes an exception that requires only non-American components of finished vehicles to be tariffed.
Trump has previously said that tariffs on car parts will come into effect by May 3.
The president said that his government is not currently considering raising tariffs, but at some point it could increase.
Trump claimed that during a conversation with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, he had questioned why the U.S should “subsidize” Canada.
“He was unable to answer the question,” Trump said. “As a state, it works great.”
“If they didn’t have us and we didn’t spend that money, as Trudeau told me, they would cease to exist. He said that to me, they would cease to exist, which is true. Certainly, as a country.
This comes after the U.S. president seemed to have slowed down his taunting of Canada, after spending a lot of time in 2024 and earlier this year calling Canada the 51st state, and Trudeau a governor.
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When asked who he thought would win the upcoming Canadian election, the U.S. president said he didn’t want to predict other nations’ elections.
“It’s tough enough doing this one,” he added.
He also said that the U.S. is working on a deal with Canada.
“We will see what happens.”
REACTIONS POUR IN
Following Trump’s recent comments, some Canadians have taken to social media to share their thoughts.
Many people are offended by the comments and feel that Canada does not need the United States’ help.
“Mr Trump, we don’t miss your Bourbon, your Californian wine, or your p**s you call American beer,” one person said on X. “You started this Tariff war and Canada is better off! Our Niagara wineries are booming right now, thank you!”
“He is in dream land again. USA needs Canada more than we need the USA. Its a big world out there,” another person posted.
“We do not need America. We can build a strong economy through more reliable trade partners. It won’t be easy but we can do it.”
While others say that Canada is too reliant on the U.S.
“We ARE dependent on the US for our economy and national defence. Why do so many Canadians pretend that this is not true?” one person on X questioned.
“Without USA we’d be invaded. That’s 100% certain,” another person said.
