President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that Canada is “considering” an offer to become the 51st U.S. state in exchange for free access to his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system.

“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!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The claim follows Trump’s unveiling of the Golden Dome last week, a proposed next-generation missile defense system inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome but designed to counter long-range and hypersonic missile threats, including those from space. The ambitious project, estimated to cost $175 billion and be operational by 2029, aims to create a satellite network to detect, track, and intercept ballistic missiles, protecting the entire U.S. and potentially its allies.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who met with Trump at the White House earlier this month, has repeatedly rejected the idea of Canada becoming a U.S. state. During their meeting, Carney firmly said that Canada’s sovereignty is “not for sale,” a sentiment echoing his recent election campaign, which capitalized on anti-Trump rhetoric to secure a historic victory. Despite Trump’s claim that Canada is “considering” statehood, no official Canadian response to the latest proposal has been issued, and sources suggest Carney’s stance remains unchanged.

The Golden Dome proposal has sparked debate over its feasibility and cost. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that elements of the project could cost up to $542 billion over 20 years, raising questions about its affordability and timeline.

Trump has been floating the idea of Canada as the 51st state for a while. In December 2024, Trump suggested Canada could join the U.S. if tariffs crippled its economy, with promises of tax cuts and military protection. During his May 6 meeting with Carney, Trump reiterated the proposal, prompting Carney to quash it on the spot. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra later claimed the issue was “behind us,” but Trump’s latest comments suggest otherwise.

The timing of Trump’s statement coincided with King Charles III’s speech from the throne in Canada’s Parliament, which emphasized Canadian sovereignty, further highlighting the disconnect between Trump’s claims and Canada’s position.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)