Donald Trump makes chilling WW3 ultimatum as he pushes for Canada to become '51st state'
As we all know, Donald Trump drives a hard bargain.
And despite Canada politely declining his invitation to become America's '51st state' on several occasions, the US president seems to think his latest offer is one that the country can't refuse.
It appears as though Trump is trying to use the ever-growing threat of World War III as leverage, as he said that the neighbouring nation could take advantage of the protection his Golden Dome will offer for free - on one huge condition.
The Commander-in-Chief revealed the concept for the $175 billion (£130 billion) missile defence system last week, explaining it would be able to shield the US from the threat of 'foreign missile attacks'.
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The 'cutting-edge' system should be fully operational before the end of his term, Trump said, while it is set to boast both ground and space-based capabilities.
The 78-year-old has offered to extend the Golden Dome's protection across Canada too, however, it will cost the country an arm and a leg to do so - unless it reconsiders its stance on becoming the 51st state.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said: "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. They are considering the offer!"
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has previously insisted that his country is 'not for sale, ever' when asked about what he thinks of Trump's proposition.
He said that during his trip to the White House at the beginning of this month, he had managed to change Trump's mind about annexing Canada from an 'expectation to a desire'.
"He was expressing a desire," Carney told Sky News a couple of weeks ago. "He'd shifted from the expectation to a desire. He was also coming from a place where he recognised that that wasn't going to happen.
"Does he still muse about it? Perhaps. Is it ever going to happen? No. Never."
The Liberal leader also said that Canadians 'weren't impressed' by Sir Keir Starmer inviting Trump to the UK for a second state visit, 'given the circumstances'.
"It was at a time when we were being quite clear about the issues around sovereignty," the PM said.
Carney then revealed that him inviting King Charles III to Canada was 'not coincidental', describing the head-of-state's visit as a 'reaffirming moment' after problems surrounding the country's sovereignty were 'accentuated by the president'.
The British monarch made reference to this during a speech to open the nation’s parliament, as he noted that Canada was facing a 'critical moment' in its history.
He said that 'self-determination' was among a number of values Canada held dear, adding that the government was 'determined to protect' it.
After highlighting worrying periods from the past, King Charles said: "Today, Canada faces another critical moment. Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the Government is determined to protect."
He continued: "The system of open global trade that, while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for Canadians for decades, is changing. Canada’s relationships with partners are also changing.
"We must be clear-eyed: the world is a more dangerous and uncertain place than at any point since the Second World War.
"Canada is facing challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetimes."
King Charles also made reference to Carney and Trump's efforts to 'define a new economic and security relationship between Canada and the US, rooted in mutual respect and founded on common interests, to deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations'.
"In parallel, the Government is working to strengthen its relationships with reliable trading partners and allies around the world, recognising that Canada has what the world needs and the values the world respects," he added.
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics, World News
Olivia Burke