President Trump was interviewed by Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic:
TRUMP: I think maybe one of the things I’ve been most successful with is foreign relations.
GOLDBERG: I think the Canadians would disagree.
TRUMP: Well, the Canadians. Here’s the problem I have with Canada: We’re subsidizing them to the tune of $200 billion a year.
And we don’t need their gasoline; we don’t need their oil; we don’t need their lumber. We don’t need their energy of any type. We don’t need anything they have. I say it would make a great 51st state. I love other nations. I love Canada. I have great friends. Wayne Gretzky’s a friend of mine. I mean, I have great friends. I said to Wayne, “I’m gonna give you a pass, Wayne.” I don’t want to ruin his reputation in Canada. I said, “Just pretend you don’t know me.” But they’re great people.You know, they do 95 percent of their business with us. Remember, if they’re a state, there’s no tariffs. They have lower taxes. We have to guard them militarily.
GOLDBERG: You seriously want them to become a state?
TRUMP: I think it would be great.