US President-elect Donald Trump has revived his controversial idea of a US-Canada merger following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's announcement of his resignation.
Trump made his comments via social media on Monday, suggesting that merging the two nations would result in economic benefits and greater security.
“If Canada merged with the United States, there would be no tariffs, taxes would be greatly reduced, and they would be completely safe from the threat of Russian and Chinese ships constantly surrounding them,” Trump posted.
“Together, what a great nation we would be!!!” he added.
Trudeau, who has served as Prime Minister of Canada since 2015, announced that he would resign as leader and prime minister of the Liberal Party after the party selects a new leader. The announcement comes after months of political challenges, including declining polls and internal divisions.
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“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party elects its next leader,” Trudeau said during a news conference in Ottawa.
The timeline for Trudeau's departure remains unclear, as he will remain as interim leader until a new party leader is elected through what he described as a “robust national competitive process.”
Trump's suggestion comes amid strained trade relations between the United States and Canada. It has pledged to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports, a move that could significantly impact Canada's economy. Trudeau, in turn, has promised retaliatory measures if such tariffs are introduced.
The possibility of a trade war between the neighboring countries poses significant economic and political challenges as Trudeau manages Canada's leadership transition while navigating the new Trump administration.