A plurality of Canadians and Americans perceive U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s stated ambition to transform Canada into the 51st state as a display of bravado rather than a serious proposal, a new survey suggests. But a notable number think he’s serious, or aren’t sure.
Fifty-two percent of Canadians and 44 percent of Americans polled in a cross-border study by the Angus Reid Institute said Trump’s threat is simply showboating. But 32 percent of Canadians and 22 percent of Americans are taking the 51st state comments seriously and 16 percent of Canadians and 32 percent of Americans said they are not sure what to think, the poll found.
Some Canadians are worried Trump will apply more pressure on Canada once he takes possession of the Oval Office, however. The poll found that 54 percent are either “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” the pressure will ramp up and 62 percent don’t trust Trump not to use military force, despite his assertions to the contrary.
Trump first began making comments about Canada joining the United States during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s trip to Florida last November to discuss the incoming president’s threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods if Ottawa doesn’t address border security.
It was during that visit that the incoming president first joked Canada should become the 51st U.S. state and Trudeau its “governor.”
Trump has repeated the 51st state jibe multiple times since, saying in a Dec. 18 Truth Social post that “many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State.” Trump also said last week he was considering using “economic force” to convince Canada to become America’s 51st state.
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Despite Trump’s assertions that Canadians are eager to join his country, 90 percent of those polled were opposed to the idea. Only 10 percent were agreeable, the survey found.
The responses were split more evenly among U.S. respondents. Forty-nine percent said they opposed the notion while 25 percent supported it, and 26 percent were uncertain.
Americans Weigh In
The majority of American respondents (77 percent) said if Trump is serious about Canada joining the United States, then the merger should only happen if Canadians were in favour. Five percent said Trump should use military force to achieve the goal and one percent said it should be accomplished through economic pressure. Sixteen percent were unsure.
If Canada were to merge with the United States, only 52 percent of Americans said Canada should enjoy full statehood, with citizenship, and voting rights, the survey found.
“One-quarter instead say Canada should be relegated to a reduced status like that of Puerto Rico, which does not have congressional representation and whose residents are not able to vote in presidential elections,” the report said. The remaining quarter of respondents were uncertain.
The survey also found that American impressions of Canada are largely positive, with 77 percent of U.S. residents polled having either a “very favourable” or “mostly favourable” view of Canada. Canada also had a higher rating than any of the other countries mentioned in the poll. Seventy-one percent had a positive view of the UK, 50 percent thought well of Ukraine, and 49 percent of Mexico.
Canadian sentiments toward the U.S. were less favourable. The poll found that only 39 percent of Canadians had a “very favourable” or “mostly favourable” of America while 55 percent had either a “mostly unfavourable” or “very unfavourable view.”
