Ontario Premier Doug Ford didn’t mince words this week when asked about U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest revival of the so-called “51st state” rhetoric regarding Canada. Following a high-profile meeting with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in Toronto on October 1, 2025, Ford addressed reporters, making it clear he was fed up with the U.S. president’s recurring suggestion that Canada join the United States as its newest state.
“President Trump is back at it again,” Ford said, as broadcast by Global News and CTV News. “I’m going to ignore him.” Ford’s comments echoed a growing sense of fatigue among Canadian officials over Trump’s repeated musings about annexing Canada—a notion that has become a recurring theme in Trump’s public appearances, particularly since his return to office.
The latest round of controversy was sparked during Trump’s address to top U.S. military generals in Virginia earlier that week. According to National Post, Trump revived his proposal that Canada could become the 51st state of the United States, linking the idea to ongoing discussions about missile defense and trade tensions. Trump recounted a supposed conversation about Canada joining the U.S. missile defense program, the Golden Dome, an initiative he had first floated back in December 2024. "To which I said, 'Well, why don’t you just join our country? You become the 51st state and you get it for free,'" Trump declared during his speech. "I don’t know if that made a big impact, but it does make a lot of sense, because they’re having a hard time up there in Canada now because, as you know, with tariffs, everyone’s coming into our country."
For Ford, Trump’s comments were more than just political theater—they were a distraction from the real work of governance. Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Governor Whitmer, Ford was candid in his frustration. “This guy is too much. He’s back on his 51st state again… I am going to ignore him,” Ford said, as reported by Global News. “I disagree with anything that guy says. He drives me crazy. I’ll talk about him. But let’s stop worrying about this guy and start worrying about what we can do as a country.”
Ford’s approach is to redirect attention toward strengthening Ontario’s economic environment and collaboration with the federal government. He emphasized his intent to focus on lowering taxes and creating an attractive landscape for business investment in Ontario, rather than engaging with Trump’s provocative remarks. “Let’s stop worrying about this guy and start worrying about what we can do as a country,” Ford reiterated, highlighting a pragmatic turn away from the rhetorical skirmishes that have characterized cross-border relations in recent years.
The “51st state” idea is not new, but its repeated invocation by Trump has become a sore point for Canadian officials and the public alike. The notion, which has never been seriously entertained by any Canadian government, is seen by many north of the border as both patronizing and inflammatory. Trump’s comments have often come during moments of heightened trade friction or security negotiations, adding fuel to the fire of bilateral tensions.
According to National Post, Trump’s latest jab was also tied to discussions about Canada’s potential involvement in the U.S. missile defense program. The Golden Dome, a multi-layered missile defense initiative, has been a point of interest for both countries, especially as global security threats have evolved. Trump claimed that Canada had recently reached out about joining the program, only for him to suggest, in typical Trumpian fashion, that full statehood would make participation free of charge.
Not everyone in the U.S. diplomatic community is keen to stoke the flames of this debate. Just days before Ford’s comments, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra faced pointed questions at a forum in Banff, Alberta. When asked by former Canadian diplomat Colin Robertson if he sympathized with Canadians upset by Trump’s annexation rhetoric, Hoekstra was diplomatic but firm. “My direction from the president is very, very clear: prosperity, safety and security. And for those Canadians who want to talk about growing business opportunities, securing and their borders and those types of things…the embassy is open to do business with you,” Hoekstra responded, according to National Post. “If you wanted talk about the 51st state, I’m sorry, I don’t have time to do that.”
Hoekstra also expressed his own frustration with the way some Canadians have characterized President Trump. “You may not like some of the things that he says or whatever, but again, to describe the president as being uninformed…you don’t hear Americans talk about our disagreements with Canadian politicians, saying they’re just uninformed,” Hoekstra said, seeking to cool the rhetoric on both sides of the border.
For Canadians, Trump’s comments have often landed at awkward moments, especially as the two countries navigate complex issues ranging from trade tariffs to border security and defense. Ford’s meeting with Governor Whitmer, for instance, was focused on strengthening regional cooperation and building economic ties between Ontario and Michigan. Yet, Trump’s comments managed to overshadow the substance of the meeting, drawing attention away from the practical work of cross-border collaboration.
The timing of Trump’s remarks is notable, coming at a moment when Canada is grappling with its own economic and political challenges. Trade tensions with the U.S. have been a persistent concern, particularly as tariffs and protectionist policies have made headlines. Trump’s suggestion that Canada is "having a hard time up there" plays into a broader narrative of American economic dominance—a message that has not been well received north of the border.
Ford’s response, then, is as much about asserting Canadian autonomy as it is about ignoring an irksome neighbor. By choosing to "ignore" Trump, Ford signals a desire to move past the distractions of political showmanship and focus on tangible results for Ontarians. Whether this strategy will succeed in muting Trump’s rhetoric remains to be seen, but for now, Ford appears determined to chart his own course.
Meanwhile, the broader Canadian political establishment has largely dismissed the “51st state” idea as unserious. The focus remains on maintaining a strong, independent Canada while managing the realities of a sometimes unpredictable relationship with its southern neighbor. As Ford put it, the priority is to "start worrying about what we can do as a country"—a sentiment that likely resonates with many Canadians tired of being used as a rhetorical prop in U.S. domestic politics.
As the dust settles from this latest round of cross-border banter, one thing is clear: while Trump may continue to float the idea of Canada as America’s next state, Canadian leaders like Doug Ford are intent on staying the course—eyes fixed firmly on their own priorities, and their own future.
