WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has frequently suggested that Canada ought to become the 51st state of the United States, proposing the elimination of the extensive 5,525-mile border that divides the two nations. This idea is considered absurd by many Canadians, and the obstacles to actually making such a transition are formidable.
In Trump’s perspective, the existing Lower 48 states would then be referred to as the contiguous 50 states, as the Canadian territory lying between the U.S. mainland and Alaska would effectively vanish, leaving only Hawaii as the sole non-continental state. “If people wanted to play the game right, it would be 100% certain that they’d become a state,” Trump declared in a recent statement.
Initially, Canada’s response was one of disbelief, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphatically stating that Canada would not become the 51st state. However, Trudeau has since indicated in private discussions that Trump’s consistent calls for annexation might not be mere jest but could represent a serious consideration.
So, what would be required for Canada to transition from an independent nation to a U.S. state? The first step would be congressional approval for the inclusion of a new state. A simple majority in the House of Representatives is necessary, but due to Senate filibuster rules, at least 60 votes are required in the 100-member Senate to advance a bill for discussion — a challenging threshold for any significant legislation.
The U.S. Constitution’s Admissions Clause, found in Article IV, Section 3, articulates that “New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.” Any congressional approval would also need the president’s signature, and Trump has made it clear that he would enthusiastically support such a measure if it reached his desk.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina humorously suggested last month on social media that when all 50 states certified Trump’s Electoral College victory, “They skipped Canada. We’ll fix that next time!” However, there is currently no significant legislative movement that would extend an invitation for statehood to Canada.
Canada’s leadership is overwhelmingly uninterested in pursuing statehood, a sentiment echoed by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who proposed a playful counter-offer to Trump: “How about, if we buy Alaska, and we’ll throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time?” He dismissed the notion as unrealistic. Throughout history, there have been various avenues to statehood, from the adoption of the 13 colonies to the formal agreement for Texas to join the Union as the 28th state. Typically, states were incorporated after Congress accepted a petition from some territorial legislative body, which could even involve legislatures suggested by Congress as part of the process.
For Canada to even consider the prospect of joining the U.S., it would likely require a referendum to assess public sentiment on statehood — a step that is improbable given the current climate. While polls from the previous year indicate that Americans generally have a positive view of Canada and Canadians have a somewhat favorable outlook on the U.S., their sentiments are not overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Trump’s tariff threats have left a segment of the Canadian populace feeling disheartened, leading to public displays of discontent, such as booing the U.S. national anthem at sports events.
The implications of Canada joining the U.S. would be significant, particularly concerning elections. Hypothetically, if Canada were to become part of the Union, its population of 41.6 million would make it the largest state, surpassing California’s 39.4 million residents. Canada would be allocated two senators and 55 House representatives based on the average congressional district size following the 2020 census, drastically influencing the political landscape. This situation would create a critical shift in electoral power, as Canada would possess 57 Electoral College votes — more than any other state.
However, the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929 limits the House of Representatives to 435 members, necessitating the reduction of other states’ delegations to accommodate the new Canadian congresspersons. This scenario would drastically alter the importance of swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, as a significantly larger number of Canadians would enter the political fray.
Discussions about potential new states have typically focused on Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., prior to Trump’s presidency. Puerto Rico is currently a U.S. commonwealth, and its citizens have expressed support for statehood in non-binding referendums. Despite numerous proposals, Congress has yet to formalize Puerto Rico’s statehood. Similarly, Washington, D.C. residents have supported statehood and drafted a state constitution, but efforts to admit the district into the Union have been thwarted primarily due to partisan divides in Congress.
The last state added to the United States was Hawaii in 1959, following a protracted struggle for statehood that was influenced by racial issues and partisan conflicts. Hawaii’s admission came shortly after Alaska became the 49th state, paving the way for Congress to approve Hawaii’s inclusion, with island voters voting to join the Union soon after. Consequently, Alaska has historically leaned Republican in elections, while Hawaii has predominantly supported Democratic candidates.
