During his presidential transition, President-elect Donald Trump has consistently expressed his desire for Canada to become part of the United States. This sentiment, along with Trump’s casual confidence in its feasibility and popularity, is not a new concept. Throughout American history, discussions of annexing Canada have arisen, often fueled by the belief that Canadians themselves were eager for such a union.
In the midst of the War of 1812, former President Thomas Jefferson optimistically stated to a newspaper editor that taking over Canada, up to Quebec, would be a simple task. However, history proved otherwise. Many Americans falsely assumed that Canadians would welcome American forces, as noted by the National Park Service.
In the 1800s, both major U.S. political parties showed some interest in annexing Canada, believing it could be done peacefully and would be embraced by Canadians. Fast forward to today, and Trump is active on social media suggesting that many Canadians would welcome becoming the 51st state.
Despite Trump’s assertions, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded firmly, stating that Canada would never become part of the United States. Public opinion in Canada demonstrates a distinct political culture separate from that of the U.S. Surveys indicate a preference for Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump, though opinions varied among Conservative Canadians.
Although Canadians have generally viewed the U.S. favorably, attitudes dipped during Trump’s presidency but rebounded after President Biden’s election. While some Canadian politicians and parties have supported annexation, these movements have not gained significant public traction. The differences between Canadian and American political cultures, such as universal healthcare, highlight the challenges of merging the two countries.
The discussion of adding new states to the U.S. has raised concerns about political implications, particularly in terms of Senate representation. The complexities of such a merger and the divergent political landscapes between the two countries underscore the obstacles to any potential annexation.
The recent poll conducted by Nics Institute, when translated into potential votes, could potentially bring millions of voters opposed to Trump into the political landscape. In essence, Trump’s optimistic aspirations of an easy victory are significantly more nuanced when faced with reality. Nevertheless, the president-elect is not the first in American history to overlook such complexities in favor of discussing new horizons in the concept of manifest destiny.
