Asger Risom
The controversial proposal follows a firm rejection from Canada’s new prime minister and a pointed response from King Charles III.
What began as political posturing has taken a sharper turn. U.S. President Donald Trump has again floated the idea of Canada becoming the 51st American state — this time with a price tag attached.
The offer, made just hours after King Charles III defended Canada’s sovereignty in a speech from Ottawa, is reigniting debate about the stability of cross-border relations.
The announcement comes amid tensions over a proposed missile defense initiative and follows a turbulent Canadian election that brought in a new prime minister with a much firmer stance on national autonomy.
The “Golden Dome” Bargain
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that Canada could avoid a $61 billion bill for access to the U.S. missile shield — dubbed the “Golden Dome” — if it agreed to become a U.S. state.
I told Canada… it will cost them $61 billion to remain a separate nation, but it will cost them nothing to become the 51st American state.
Trump wrote, adding, “They are studying the offer!”
Since returning to office, Trump has repeatedly referenced the idea of annexing Canada — a stance that some analysts view as political theater and others see as testing diplomatic limits.
Ottawa’s Firm Response
Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, has repeatedly dismissed the proposal, including during a recent visit to the White House.
He emphasized that Canada “will never be for sale,” a phrase that has since become a rallying cry among his supporters.
King Charles III also addressed the controversy during a speech in Ottawa, calling sovereignty, democracy, and self-determination “values dear to Canadians” and describing Canada as “strong and free.”
While Canada is reportedly in “high-level” talks with the U.S. about participating in the Golden Dome missile shield, Carney has made clear that any agreement would be on Canadian terms.
As reported by Digi24, the U.S. proposal includes protection from a wide range of threats, including ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, and drones.
But for now, Trump’s offer appears more symbolic than strategic — and more likely to provoke than persuade.