Above: Donald Trump and former Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, shake hands. Photo courtesy of Getty images.
What if Canada became the 51st state? It’s a question that sounds more like a hypothetical political game than reality, yet it has sparked surprising conversation among students at St. Ambrose University, after President Donald Trump has publicly discussed Canada becoming the 51st state.
When asked in a press briefing if President Trump has plans moving forward with trying to make Canada the 51st state, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded on March 6th, “Sure. Well, the president put that in his true social account, his true social post earlier today.
“He feels strongly that it would be very beneficial for the Canadian people to be the 51st state of the United States. They wouldn’t pay be paying for these tariffs. They have much lower taxes if they were part of our great country.”
When Ambrose students were asked, The Buzz got different reactions, from dismissing it as a ridiculous idea, to dissecting the complex logistics of such a merger.
The idea of the U.S. adopting Canada has ignited conversation about everything from political systems to national identities, raising one simple question: Could this event ever happen?
“I guess I don’t really pay much attention to that kind of thing,” admits Grace Beitzel, an SAU junior majoring in elementary education, “but I feel like there are probably some benefits along with cons. I also feel like it probably won’t happen.”
For some students, the idea of integrating Canada into the U.S. was not just impractical, it was absurd.
“I think it’s unnecessary and unrealistic. Pretty stupid if I’m being completely honest,” says Reagan Engberg, a junior at SAU. “I think there are bigger issues that need to be focused on rather than trying to turn a whole other country into part of ours.”
Not everyone dismissed the idea so quickly. Other students, such as SAU freshman majoring in exercise science, Carrieanne Hungate, took a more analytical approach, pointing out the logistical nightmare such a move would create.
“I think it’s not very practical. Canada as a whole would simply be too much,” Hungate says. “I think if he was going to do anything at all and really wanted to do it the right way, he should consider the 10 provinces individually.
“Then you have issues of complete restructuring of their government because, ultimately, it would be transformed to fit the American structure.
“Congressional restructuring in terms of representatives would have to take place. I also think a lot of Canadians would resist the idea, as the American government is way, way different.”
That statement was repeated throughout the interviews. Many say that Canadians will never allow this change, even those students who were unaware that this proposal was even being discussed at a political level.
“I didn’t even know that was a thought or possibility that was going on. I really don’t think that’s going to happen because of how big Canada is and how many people live there,” says SAU sophomore who wishes to remain anonymous.
However, for Canadians, it has become a matter of significant emotional distress. Many are struggling with the uncertainty and fear surrounding potential changes, affecting not only their daily lives but also their sense of identity and national pride.
President Trump’s suggestion that Canada become the 51st state has further intensified these concerns, eliciting strong opposition from Canadians and reinforcing their commitment to national independence and identity.
The controversy has even influenced behavior, with a significant decline in travel to the U.S. and a surge in nationalism. Overall, Canadians have united in rejecting President Trump’s suggestion, expressing their discontent through both political discourse and personal actions.
For SAU students, the focus remains on real world problems that directly impact their lives, leaving the idea of a U.S. and Canada merger as nothing more than an interesting, if unlikely, topic of discussion.
Adriana Diaz is a staff writer for The Buzz.
