Trump shuts down speculation he’s ‘trolling’ about controversial proposal: ‘I’m really not’

WASHINGTON — President Trump has said he is dormant superior erstwhile he argues Canada should become America’s 51st state.

Trump bristled during an question and reply with Time mag when 1 of its journalists prompted him: “You’ve talked astir acquiring Greenland, taking power of  nan Panama Canal, making Canada nan 51st state. Maybe you’re trolling a small spot connected that [last] one.”

“Actually, no, I’m not,” nan president said.

President Trump insisted again that he was superior astir Canada becoming America’s 51st state. Getty Images

Trump has many times insisted that he’s not kidding astir Canada becoming portion of nan United States — though section guidance to nan thought makes it improbable successful nan adjacent term.

A Time journalist followed up: “Well, do you want to turn nan American empire?”

“Well, it depends,” Trump explained. “As an empire, it wasn’t — these are not things that we had before, truthful I’d position it a small spot otherwise if we had nan correct opportunity.

“Yeah, I deliberation Greenland would beryllium very good off if they, I deliberation it’s important for america for nationalist information and moreover world security,” he added. “I deliberation Canada, what you said that, ‘Well, that one, I mightiness beryllium trolling.’ But I’m really not trolling.”

Trump has seldom mentioned annexing Canada since Mark Carney took complete arsenic premier curate past period from Justin Trudeau, whom Trump mockingly called “governor.”

“Canada is an absorbing case. We suffer $200 to $250 cardinal a twelvemonth supporting Canada,” nan president told Time.

“And I asked a man, who I called Governor Trudeau, I said, ‘Why? Why do you deliberation we’re losing truthful overmuch money supporting you? Do you deliberation that’s right? Do you deliberation that’s due for different state to make it possible, for a state to sustain?’ and he was incapable to springiness maine an answer, but it costs america complete $200 cardinal a twelvemonth to return attraction of Canada?

“We’re taking attraction of their military. We’re taking attraction of each facet of their lives, and we don’t request them to make cars for us. In fact, we don’t want them to make cars for us. We want to make our ain cars. We don’t request their lumber. We don’t request their energy. We don’t request thing from Canada. And I opportunity nan only measurement this point really useful is for Canada to go a state.”

Trump has seldom mentioned nan thought since Mark Carney became premier curate past month. Getty Images

Polling shows astir Canadians reason joining nan United States, though nan precise wording of nan mobility garners different results and younger citizens look much inclined to judge Trump’s idea.

Surveys conducted successful December and January by Leger Marketing and nan Angus Reid Institute recovered 13% and 10% support, respectively, for Canada joining nan US.

But Ipsos recovered that while 80% of Canadians claimed they would “never” ballot to subordinate nan US, nan number softened erstwhile nan mobility included an connection of American citizenship and conversion of Canadian dollars — with 30% saying they would ballot to subordinate nan US under those conditions.

In a motion Trump’s thought whitethorn person staying power, younger voters were much open-minded astir nan idea.

Among Canadians ages 18 to 34, support for joining nan US reached 43% successful nan Ipsos canvass when citizenship and afloat conversion of assets were mentioned.