Trump Privately Rules Out Canada Annexation, Citing Royal Respect and Historical Barriers
In a surprising revelation from an upcoming biography, U.S. President Donald Trump has privately indicated he will not attempt to invade Canada or turn the country into America's 51st state. The comments were made during a 2025 interview with royal biographer Robert Hardman for a book about Queen Elizabeth II, according to a report from Britain's Daily Mail.
Royal Connection Cited as Primary Deterrent
Trump's decision appears heavily influenced by his respect for the British monarchy. When Hardman suggested Trump's frequent musings about annexing Canada would make King Charles "unhappy," the president reportedly asked: "Do they still recognize the King? Or have they stopped that?" After being assured that Canadians still recognize Charles as their head of state, Trump acknowledged this as a significant barrier to any takeover attempt.
Hardman noted that the president's respect for both the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles represented "the closest I had heard to an acknowledgement that, as long as Canada had the King, Mr. Trump was not going to usurp him." The royal connection was identified as "the primary reason why he was no longer sabre-rattling at Canada."
Historical and Practical Obstacles Acknowledged
Trump specifically cited Canada's history and national identity as obstacles too significant to overcome during his remaining time in office. "I suppose the Canadians have got 200 years of history and all that 'Oh, Canada' thing. You can't deal with that in three and a half years. I guess it's not going to happen!" he told Hardman.
The president also made geographical observations about Canada, noting that "most of the country lives just north of the U.S. border" and suggesting the border should have been drawn "50 miles further north" to avoid what he perceives as complications. Despite these comments, Trump maintained his critical view of Canadian politicians, claiming they're "nice to my face and then they say bad things behind my back," specifically referencing former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's mockery of him at a 2019 NATO event.
Context of Previous Annexation Rhetoric
Trump's private remarks represent a significant shift from his public statements over recent years. Following his reelection in 2024, Trump repeatedly suggested Canada should become the 51st state, even referring to Trudeau as "governor" and sharing AI-generated images of himself with Canadian symbolism. In January 2025, he posted on Truth Social that "Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State."
The president's comments to Hardman came after conservative commentator Tucker Carlson recently floated the idea of "regime change" in Canada during a viral segment, arguing that "if there ever was a people that needed liberation from its government ... it's Canadians" and suggesting annexation "by force if necessary."
Current Canadian Leadership Response
Prime Minister Mark Carney, elected in April 2025, has consistently rejected Trump's annexation suggestions. During an October 2025 White House meeting, Carney stated Canada would "never be for sale," to which Trump replied: "Time will tell. It's only time. But I say never say never. I've had many, many things that were not doable and they ended up being doable and only doable in a very friendly way."
Trump's remarks about Canada follow similar musings about acquiring Greenland and come amid his broader pattern of questioning traditional alliances while expressing admiration for monarchical systems. The interview revelations have generated hundreds of social media responses, with one Canadian commenting: "I'm glad to hear him say it, though he obviously still wants to take us over."
