'Worth a chuckle': Republican claims nobody in party takes Trump's Canada threat seriously

Republican Congressman Mark Amodei (NV) laughed off his party leader's repeated vows to take over Canada as America's 51st state Tuesday — and promised to impose steep tariffs on the nation.

Speaking to CNN’s Kate Bolduan to discuss Trump’s first 100 days in office, Amodei veered off to comment on the election result in Canada Monday.

The network played a segment of new Prime Minister Mark Carney's victory speech Monday night in which he claimed, “America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country. We are over the shock of the American betrayal, but we should never forget the lessons.”

“That does not sound like friends anymore,” Bolduan said. “How much has this trade war damaged that friendship that you spoke about?”

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“I think ultimately it hasn't and it won't because it's a good, solid relationship. You've got over 4,000 miles of border. Out of necessity, you're going to get along well with them.

The Nevada Republican, who sits on the Appropriations Committee, went on to share his opinion of Canada becoming the 51st state.

“But Kate, come on, you think you think anybody's really going to vote to make Canada the 51st state? Have you seen how those folks vote and how reticent we've been to talk about D.C. statehood or Puerto Rico? I mean, it's worth a chuckle, really, but anyhow, I'm not sure anybody took that seriously.

"But it makes for good talking points on both sides some days. Ultimately, I don't think anything will have changed except the nature of the relationship economically.”

“I will say people did take it as a good chuckle at the beginning, and then the president kept saying how serious he was,” Bolduan interjected before ending the interview. “Everyone always says, take Trump seriously. Look no further than the trade war that he's sparked. So you keep chucking, we will see what happens.”

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