'It was meant to be!' Trump greets Canada election with fresh threats
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere (not pictured) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 24, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

President Donald Trump waded into Canada's federal election that has essentially become a referendum on him.

The U.S. president has upended relations between the neighboring allies with steep tariffs on Canadian imports and threats to use “economic force” to annex the country as the 51st state, and Trump fired off another ultimatum Monday morning at 8:36 a.m. EST, as the first polls opened in Newfoundland and parts of Labrador.

"Good luck to the Great people of Canada," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power, for free, to the highest level in the World, have your Car, Steel, Aluminum, Lumber, Energy, and all other businesses, QUADRUPLE in size, WITH ZERO TARIFFS OR TAXES, if Canada becomes the cherished 51st. State of the United States of America."

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Liberal Party leader Mark Carney is widely expected to win what has essentially become a two-way race with Conservative Party candidate Pierre Poilievre, whose party's once commanding 25-point lead disintegrated last month as Trump ratcheted up his trade war and threats against Canadian sovereignty.

"No more artificially drawn line from many years ago," Trump posted. "Look how beautiful this land mass would be. Free access with NO BORDER. ALL POSITIVES WITH NO NEGATIVES. IT WAS MEANT TO BE! America can no longer subsidize Canada with the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year that we have been spending in the past. It makes no sense unless Canada is a State!"