BREAKING: Trump to double Canadian tariffs on steel, aluminum, says 'the only thing that makes sense' is to make Canada 51st state

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that he would be doubling the tariff on aluminum as well as steel on Canadian imports to the United States, while also saying that it only makes sense for Canada to become the 51st state of the US. 

Trump wrote on Truth Social, "Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25% Tariff on 'Electricity' coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. This will go into effect TOMORROW MORNING, March 12th. Also, Canada must immediately drop their Anti-American Farmer Tariff of 250% to 390% on various U.S. dairy products, which has long been considered outrageous. I will shortly be declaring a National Emergency on Electricity within the threatened area. This will allow the U.S to quickly do what has to be done to alleviate this abusive threat from Canada. If other egregious, long time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada, I will substantially increase, on April 2nd, the Tariffs on Cars coming into the U.S. which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada. Those cars can easily be made in the USA!"



He continued, "Also, Canada pays very little for National Security, relying on the United States for military protection. We are subsidizing Canada to the tune of more than 200 Billion Dollars a year. WHY??? This cannot continue. The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State. This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear. Canadians’ taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem, and the greatest and most powerful nation in the World will be bigger, better and stronger than ever — And Canada will be a big part of that. The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World — And your brilliant anthem, “O Canada,” will continue to play, but now representing a GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the World has ever seen!"

The post from Trump comes after Ontario Premier Doug Ford said there would be a 25 percent surcharge on electricity going to the states of Michigan, Minnesota, as well as New York out of the Canadian province. Trump slammed Ford, saying that with the April 2 deadline for the reciprocal tariffs Trump will be implementing, the US will "just get it all back." 

The president has previously made statements similar to the post, where he was floated the idea of having Canada as the 51st state, and has joked that the outgoing Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is the "governor" of the country.