Trump claimed that Canada would become the 51st state in exchange for protection.

The president of the United States, Donald Trump, caused anticipation on Tuesday by stating that Canada is "considering" becoming the 51st U.S. state in exchange for being included free of charge in his proposed "Golden Dome" missile defense system.

The statement was made in a post on Truth Social, just hours after King Charles III, head of state of Canada and 14 other countries, delivered a speech before the Canadian parliament in which he made a veiled criticism of Trump's proposed annexation attempt.

"I told Canada, which wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost 61 billion dollars if they remain a separate but unequal nation, but it will cost ZERO dollars if they become our beloved 51st State," wrote Trump, 78 years old.

King Charles's speech referred to the context of uncertainty the country is experiencing, stating that "Canada faces challenges that, in our lifetimes, are unprecedented" and acknowledging the anxiety of many citizens in the face of the changing international landscape. His words were interpreted as an indirect response to Trump's attempt to pressure Ottawa.

Trump has hinted since last year at the possibility of Canada becoming the next state of the union, ironically referring to then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "governor" of Canada.

In 2024, he imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian products such as steel, aluminum, and automobiles that did not meet the standards of the USMCA trade agreement, in addition to penalizing imports outside that treaty.

Although his relations with the current prime minister, Mark Carney, have been more cordial, Trump reiterated during a meeting at the White House on May 3 that he has not ruled out his idea of including Canada. "Never say never," he told Carney. "I've achieved many things that seemed impossible."

Meanwhile, Carney acknowledged last week that Canada is considering possible investments in the 'Golden Dome' missile shield project, whose total estimated cost is 175 billion dollars.

However, there are no official indications that the Canadian government is willing to cede its sovereignty as part of a defense agreement. Trump's proposal has been met with enthusiasm both in Canadian political circles and in international media.