WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has frequently mentioned the idea that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States, advocating for the elimination of the 5,525-mile border that divides the two nations. This proposal is viewed as a means to ease potential tariffs that Trump has threatened against one of America’s closest allies and key trading partners.
In this scenario, the current 48 contiguous states would transform into a new arrangement of 50 states. Canada, located between the U.S. mainland and Alaska, would technically disappear from the map as a separate entity, leaving Hawaii as the sole non-contiguous state.
“If people were to play the game properly, it would be absolutely certain that they’d become a state,” Trump remarked recently.
Initially, Canada seemed to believe that Trump’s remarks were made in jest, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau firmly stating that Canada would never take the step of becoming the 51st state. However, Trudeau has hinted behind closed doors that the repeated suggestions from Trump regarding annexation are “a real thing.”
But what does this mean in practical terms? A closer examination of the process involved in adding a state is necessary.
To admit a new state, Congressional approval is required. While a majority in the House is sufficient, a minimum of 60 votes is essential in the Senate to avoid a filibuster, which presents a significant challenge for any substantive legislation. The Constitution’s Admissions Clause, found in Article IV, Section 3, clearly states 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 action to incorporate a new state would ultimately need the President’s signature, but Trump has indicated his support for admitting Canada.
On social media, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a supporter of Trump, joked about the absence of Canada in the list of states certified during a past Electoral College event, saying, “They skipped Canada. We’ll fix that next time!” Despite this lighthearted comment, there are currently no significant legislative efforts underway aimed at extending an invitation for statehood to Canada.
Would Canada have any input in this decision? While a territory’s residents typically don’t need to formally vote to join the United States, historical precedents show multiple routes to statehood. Notably, most states gained admission after Congress received petitions from territorial legislative bodies, which could include those proposed by Congress itself. In practice, Canada would likely need to conduct a referendum to assess public interest in joining the U.S. before any detailed process could commence, and the likelihood of such a referendum passing seems doubtful.
Public sentiment varies, with polls from Gallup and the Pew Research Center showing that Americans generally express positive feelings towards Canada. Meanwhile, Canadians have been less favorable toward the U.S. in light of Trump’s tariff threats, and public sports events in Canada have seen fans booing the U.S. national anthem.
It is worth noting that public opinion would become moot if the U.S. were to forcibly annex Canada, a scenario that Trump has not suggested, despite having left open the possibility of military action over the Panama Canal.
The addition of Canada would dramatically alter the U.S. electoral landscape. Should Canada become a state, its population of 41.6 million would surpass California’s 39.4 million, making it the largest state in the union. Canada would attain two Senate seats and approximately 55 House seats based on the average population per congressional district as projected in the 2020 census. This conversion would increase Canada’s influence significantly, yielding 57 Electoral College votes, more than any other state.
The Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929 has capped the number of House seats at 435, meaning that the addition of Canada would necessitate the reallocation of seats from existing states, affecting swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Meanwhile, discussions of statehood have traditionally revolved around Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., prior to Trump’s instance on Canada. Although Puerto Ricans have shown support for statehood in nonbinding referendums, Congress has yet to act favorably on such proposals. Washington, D.C., has also shown strong support for becoming a state, but such bills have faced obstacles in the Senate.
Trump’s interest also extends to Greenland, though Danish authorities have reiterated that it is not for sale. It remains unclear if Trump envisions it as a potential state.
The last time the United States admitted a state was in 1959 when Hawaii became the 50th state. The path to statehood was lengthy, influenced by racial discrimination and political disagreements. Hawaii was eventually admitted after Alaska, which was seen as a favorable addition for the Democrats at the time.
Thus, while discussions about Canada becoming the 51st state continue to surface humorously or seriously, the constitutional, political, and social complexities involved suggest many hurdles lie ahead.
