Former President Donald Trump expressed a serious interest in annexing Canada as the 51st U.S. state during a Super Bowl preshow interview. He claimed the U.S. loses $200 billion annually in trade with Canada, although this figure inaccurately reflects typical trade dynamics, which mainly involve energy imports. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged Trump’s intentions, citing U.S. interest in Canada’s natural resources.

Trump argued that Canada is not viable without U.S. trade and military protection and warned that the U.S. may no longer provide defense. He criticized Canada’s insufficient efforts to avoid trade tariffs and announced plans for a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, including from Canada.

During his flight to the Super Bowl, Trump signed a proclamation renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” He also defended Elon Musk’s controversial Department of Government Efficiency initiative aimed at reducing federal agencies. On a lighter note, Trump humorously acknowledged his viral dance moves, claiming he “can’t walk off without dancing.”