Trump proposes Canada become 51st state after Trudeau says tariffs would destroy economy

President-elect Trump last week suggested to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that if tariffs for not addressing trade and immigration issues would devastate the northern neighbour's economy, perhaps it should become the 51st state, sources told Fox News.

Last Friday, Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago unannounced after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products. Specifically, Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico over their failure to curb the flow of illegal immigrants and illegal drugs from those countries into the US.

Now, new details are beginning to emerge about the meeting between the two men, which Trump called "very productive."

Before the crab cocktail and oysters were served, the issues of tariffs, border security and the trade deficit were at the forefront.

According to two people at the table who overheard the discussion, Trump, while cordial and accommodating, was very direct about what he wanted from his northern counterpart.

Paraphrasing the course of the debate, Trump told Trudeau that Canada has failed the U.S. border by allowing large numbers of drugs and people, including illegal immigrants from more than 70 different countries, across the border.

According to sources, Trump became more heated when it came to the US trade deficit with Canada, which he estimated at more than $100 billion.

The President-elect told the Prime Minister that if Canada could not resolve its border problems and trade deficit, he would impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods on his first day back in office.

Trudeau told Trump that he could not impose the tariff because it would completely destroy the Canadian economy. Trump responded - asking, so your country can't survive unless it cheats the U.S. out of $100 billion?

Trump then suggested to Trudeau that Canada become the 51st state, which drew nervous laughter from the prime minister and others, Fox News sources said.

But Trump went on to tell Trudeau that prime minister was a better title, even though he could still be the 51st governor of the state.

Fox News sources reported that someone at the table spoke up and advised Trump that Canada would be a very liberal country, which drew even more laughter. Trump suggested that perhaps Canada could become two states: a conservative state and a liberal state.

He told Trudeau that if he can't manage his list of demands without ripping the US off on trade, maybe Canada really should become a state or two and Trudeau could become governor.

Although sources say the exchange drew a lot of laughter, Trump conveyed the message that he expects a change by Jan. 20.

The nearly three-hour conversation continued on various other topics, and at the end of it, the Canadian guests described the dinner as "very friendly and very positive," although there was no mention of becoming the 51st state.

Fox News Digital reached out to both Trump's camp and Trudeau's team about the statements, but neither immediately responded.

Fox News/ gnews - RoZ