Fact Check: Canada will join the US as the 51st state.

Fact Check: "Canada will join the US as the 51st state."

What We Know

The claim that Canada will become the 51st state of the United States is rooted in comments made by former President Donald Trump, who has suggested the idea in various contexts. For instance, he has expressed interest in the concept during public appearances and interviews, stating that Canada should be the 51st state and proposing to erase the border between the two countries (source-6). However, this notion is met with widespread skepticism and outright rejection from the Canadian populace and government officials. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has firmly stated that there is "not a snowball's chance in hell" that Canada will join the U.S. (source-7).

Despite some support among certain groups in Canada, particularly in Alberta, the overall sentiment is one of strong national identity and resistance to the idea of becoming a U.S. state. A poll indicated that only about 15% of Canadians supported the idea of joining the U.S. as of January 2025, with slightly higher support in western provinces like Alberta (source-2).

Analysis

The claim that Canada will join the U.S. as the 51st state is not supported by any formal political movement or legal framework. The concept appears to be largely a rhetorical device used by Trump to provoke reactions and stir discussions about Canadian-American relations. The idea has been met with significant backlash in Canada, where national pride and identity are strong. The majority of Canadians view the proposition as unrealistic and undesirable (source-6).

Moreover, the sources discussing this claim vary in reliability. While mainstream news outlets like the BBC and AP provide credible reporting on the reactions to Trump's comments, the sentiment expressed by some individuals in Alberta, as reported by the Washington Post, reflects a minority view that does not represent the broader Canadian perspective (source-2).

The historical context of Canada as a sovereign nation with its own governance structure, as detailed in the Wikipedia entry on Canada, further emphasizes the improbability of such a union. Canada has been an independent nation since its Confederation in 1867 and has developed a strong national identity distinct from that of the U.S. (source-1).

Conclusion

The claim that Canada will join the U.S. as the 51st state is False. It is based on speculative remarks made by a former U.S. president and does not reflect the views of the majority of Canadians or any formal political movement. The overwhelming sentiment in Canada is one of national pride and independence, making the prospect of becoming a U.S. state highly unlikely.