During a private dinner at Mar-a-Lago estate with Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau last Friday (November 29), US President elect Donald Trump made a rare proposal to make Canada the 51st state of the United States. Canadian Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc said it was just a joke. Canadian Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman believes that this is a good sign that makes him feel at ease.

After proposing that Canada become the 51st state of the United States, Trump posted a photo of himself standing next to the Canadian flag overlooking the mountains on his Truth Social platform. He wrote in the caption, 'Oh, Canada!'

(Source: Truth Social)

LeBron attended a private dinner with Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago estate and stated that Trump's witty remarks were clearly just a joke, not a signal of a serious plan to annex Canada.

On the long weekend of Thanksgiving in the United States, Trump held a 3-hour social party at his Florida official residence, and the conversation was very casual. He was telling jokes, teasing us, but of course, this was not a serious comment, "LeBron said.

(Source: ABC News)

He said, "There is a warm and friendly relationship between the leaders of the United States and Canada, and we think it's a good thing that the president can still tell such jokes

Trudeau and a small Canadian delegation, including LeBron and his chief of staff Katie Telford, met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago estate. The meeting was mainly a social gathering, but also discussed tariffs and measures Canada can take to strengthen border controls to prevent the influx of drugs and immigrants.

After Trump's first tariff threat against Canada last week, Canada pledged to purchase more helicopters and drones to better monitor the border.

Although the number of immigrants and illegal drugs crossing the northern border is only a small fraction of those crossing from Mexico, Trump still worries about immigrants and illegal drugs from Canada - just as Canadian officials worry about drugs and firearms flowing into the north.

When asked about Trump's specific remarks about annexing Canada, LeBron emphasized that Trump's remarks about the 51st state were just one of the "fun and funny" moments of the night, followed by some "we can do some good things for Canada" moments, such as discussing trade issues and border security.

He said that the gathering was "very fruitful" and that there was sincere enthusiasm and friendship between Canadians and Americans present.

Fox News first reported on Trump's joke and stated that Trump's remarks sparked tense laughter from Trudeau and the Canadians present.

Former senior advisor to Trudeau, Gerald Butts, said on social media on Tuesday that "Trump has been using this 51st state line to talk to Trudeau during his first term," which is a satire he used to "anger Canadians.

Bartz warned, "Don't do it when someone wants to make you panic

John Bolton, former national security advisor to Trump, has worked closely with him on Canada US affairs. He has stated that Trump does not actually like Trudeau, but considering the importance of bilateral relations, he has to "tolerate" him.

As the Canadian Ambassador to the United States, Sherman stated in an interview with the Canadian television network's Power Play program on Tuesday that although she did not see the social media post, the gathering in Florida was indeed filled with a happy and joyful atmosphere.

(Source: CTV News)

(Trump) was joking, and everyone else at the table was joking too, "said Sherman, who was one of the members of the Canadian delegation to Mar-a-Lago estate, although she did not sit at the same table as Trump and Trudeau during the three hour dinner. People are all joking, in fact, I have to say, I find people so comfortable with each other that they are joking, which makes me feel at ease

Sherman mentioned, "Any good joke always touches people's nerves, and President Trump (elected) is certainly someone who likes to touch people's nerves. Therefore, what I want to say to Canadians is, let's focus on the work before us and the work that the Trump administration has already begun

Sherman also emphasized the importance of Trudeau's trip to Florida to meet with Trump in the days following the initial tariff threat. She said, "Let's focus on what really needs attention, which is the seriousness and continuity of this conversation, rather than whether the president (elected) is enjoying this joking moment

It is worth noting that Trudeau is the first G7 leader to have face-to-face talks with Trump since he won the presidential election on November 5th.