Trump claims Canada ‘considering’ becoming 51st state as King Charles delivers throne speech
Donald Trump has made a bold new claim about Canada, just hours after King Charles delivered a rousing throne speech that contained a not-so-subtle message for the US President.
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Donald Trump has claimed that Canada is “considering” becoming the 51st state in exchange for being included within his “Golden Dome” missile defence program, just hours after King Charles gave a thinly veiled rebuke of the US president’s attempt to annex Canada.
“I told Canada, which very much 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 will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State,” Mr Trump, 78, wrote on Truth Social.
“They are considering the offer!”
It came after King Charles gave a speech to the Canadian Senate in Ottawa, in an addresss that showed a subtle expression of defiance.
The long speech delivered by the monarch in alternating English and French was penned by the Canadian government with added remarks from the monarch, who noted it was his 20th visit to Canada and his first as sovereign.
“With every visit a little bit more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream and straight to my heart,” he said.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were seated on throne chairs with Prime Minister Mark Carney adjacent to the King.
The speech was delivered in the red chamber of the Senate, in front of an audience of dignitaries and former prime ministers including political adversaries, Justin Trudeau and Stephen Harper, seated together.
Around 50 Canadian MPs were called to the door of the red chamber to hear the speech from “the King of Canada.”
His Majesty started with the land acknowledgment, made by a British monarch for the first time admitting that governance is on the unceded Indigenous territory, which was the beginning of the monarch’s demonstration of the unique foundation of the “vast and beautiful country” that sits north of the border with the United States.
King Charles then made many references to Canada’s sovereignty, including the nation’s unique identity, power, diversity, and bravery – and a sense of shared sacrifice with close allies, including Australia and the United States.
Charles highlighted the things about Canada that call attention to the real ways in which the commonwealth nation is different to the United States – and that its government plans to continue with its “self-determination and freedom of values.”
The King made several references to unprecedented times in which “we witness Canadians coming together with a renewed sense of national pride, unity and hope,” he said.
Canada is recognised across the world for its “defence of national values,” he said.
“The world faces unprecedented challenges generating uncertainties across the continents”
but the Canadian government will pursue “stability and continuity from the past to the present.”
Most pointedly, Charles acknowledged that “the system of open trade” that has promoted prosperity for Canadians for decades “is changing”.
“We must confront the reality that … our world has never been as dangerous or unstable.
Many Canadians are feeling worried about the drastically changing world around them. Yet this moment is also an incredible opportunity for renewal, to think big and to act bigger, for Canada to embark on the largest transformation since the Second World War.”
In perhaps the speech’s strongest remark pointed at US President Donald Trump, the King said Canadians can “give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can take away,” he said.
The royal outlined domestic economic measures to secure Canada’s borders, bolster Canada’s economy, strengthen the financial future of households, address climate change, and accept the sovereignty and rights of Indigenous peoples.
“Canada has embraced its British, French, Indigenous roots and become a bold innovative country that is bilingual, truly multicultural and committed to reconciliation,” he said.
In the only direct mention of Donald Trump by name or office, King Charles said “the prime minister and the president of the US have begun defining a new economic relationship to deliver mutual benefits for both sovereign nations.”
But Canada is strengthening relations with “reliable trading partners,” he said, and is ready to “build a coalition of nations … that believe in international co-operation and the free exchange of goods, services and ideas.”
“Canada will chart the path forward. That will be demonstrated as early as June when Canada chairs the G7 Summit.”
King Charles ended his address with the words “the true North is indeed strong and free” and was greeted by resounding applause from the Senate and the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Earlier, their majesties received a 21-gun salute upon their arrival to the Senate.
King Charles inspected the honour guard in formal military tradition as people in the crowd called out “God Save the King!”
King Charles is the commander-in-chief of the Canadian armed forces.
It was a hot day in Ottawa and Charles, 76, wore a blue-grey pinstriped suit, a light blue tie and an array of Canadian medals and military honours as signals of support for Canada.
Camilla wore a navy dress, hat, pearls and a Canadian brooch with historical significance worn also by Queen Elizabeth II.
The King outlined the Canadian government's priorities in an event that dates back to early times of the colony when the head of Canada had to deliver both good and difficult news to the King.
When the Queen delivered her throne speech in Australia, there were some tweaks from the Queen’s office, and commentators on CBC noted that Charles would use the opportunity to send a message to the US president about the strength and sovereignty of the Commonwealth.
The Usher of the Black Rod led the King and Queen inside the Senate foyer for an Indigenous greeting from the Ottawa River singers, highlighting the importance of the connection between the land’s original people and the crown.
The King, as a constitutional monarch, must remain above party politics, be nonpartisan and for the state, and the sovereignty of Canada.
In a busy day, King Charles and Queen Camilla also participated in a parade in a horse-drawn carriage in downtown Ottawa prior to the throne speech.
The King received full military honours in what was clearly a display of pomp and ceremony to signal a push back against US President Donald Trump's annexation threats and hostile trade tactics.
King Charles and Queen Camilla concluded their visit to Canada and departed for the UK.
Their whirlwind trip lasted approximately 24 hours and they found time to participate in events like a tree planting ceremony and visiting a farmers market.
They also paid their respects at the National War Memorial before departing Canada.
KING CHARLES MEETS PRIVATELY WITH PM MARK CARNEY
It comes as King Charles met privately with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and Governor-General Mary Simon as the constitutional monarchy fights to ward off Donald Trump’s hopes of annexation.
Charles and Camilla arrived in Ottawa on Monday local time for the historic visit ahead of the main event on Tuesday local time (Wednesday morning AEST) – a so-called throne speech to open the new parliament.
While journalists were not allowed to witness the meeting, Canadian local media report Ms Simon was heard to tell the king, “Canadians are very happy” and “welcome home” to which Charles replied: “it’s very kind.”
Camilla was given the honour of being sworn in to Canada’s Privy Council.
The 76-year-old monarch, who is Canada’s head of state as part of the Commonwealth, was earlier greeted at the airport by Mr Carney on Monday to begin the whirlwind two day visit.
The throne speech outlining the government’s priorities is typically given by the British monarch’s representative in Canada, the governor-general.
Queen Elizabeth II, the king’s late mother, delivered a throne speech in Canada just twice during her long reign, in 1957 and 1977.
Charles, making his first visit to Canada since his coronation, has never commented on Trump’s repeated talk of making Canada the 51st US state.
But he will be closely watched for any comments on Canada’s sovereignty, and on trade.
Trump has slapped tariffs on Canadian goods including sector-specific levies on autos, steel and aluminium, rattling the Canadian economy, although he has suspended some of them pending negotiations.
Queen Camilla has accompanied Charles on the 24-hour visit to Ottawa.
Mr Carney said his newly-elected government has been given a mandate “to define a new economic and security relationship with the United States,” a neighbour he believes Canada “can no longer trust.”
The government’s path to build up Canada and create new relationships will be outlined in Charles’s speech, Mr Carney said Monday.
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