Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cozied up with King Charles III at Sandringham House on Monday, but don’t expect Buckingham Palace to spill the tea. While the Royal Family snapped a photo for X, they’re keeping mum on what went down—and on U.S. President Donald Trump’s relentless push to turn Canada into America’s 51st state.
Trudeau jetted into London over the weekend for a Ukraine security summit, dodging a straight answer Sunday when asked if he’d nudge the King to flex some sovereign muscle. “I’ll be chatting with His Majesty about stuff that matters to Canadians,” he teased, before dropping the big one: “Right now, nothing’s hotter than defending our independence.” Translation? Trump’s annexation rants are front and center.
The U.S. prez has been on a tear, doubling—make that quadrupling—down on his “Canada’s mine” spiel. He’s dangling massive tariffs like a stick, promising they’d vanish if Canada just says “I do” to statehood. “Economic force” is his game plan, he boasts, tossing out zingers like calling Trudeau “governor” and hyping “amazing things” for a star-spangled Canada.
Canada’s not biting. Leaders from all stripes—federal to provincial—have slammed the idea as a non-starter. Trudeau’s been crystal clear: “Not happening.” Still, Trump keeps at it, pitching Canada as a “serious contender” for the U.S. map.
Some Canadians are itching for a regal reality check. Ex-Alberta Premier Jason Kenney took to X Saturday, nudging Trudeau to sic the Crown on Trump: “He respects the monarchy—let’s use it!” Liberal MP Anthony Housefather chimed in online too: “Our Head of State should shout it—Canada’s staying free!”
But Canada’s U.K. High Commissioner Ralph Goodale? He’s waving it off. “Trump’s 51st-state rant is pure nonsense,” he told reporters Saturday. “I’d say ignore the clown show—it’s not worth the airtime.”
Allies aren’t exactly rallying either. U.K. PM Keir Starmer dodged the topic twice during a Washington trip this week. “Canada? You’re fishing for a fight that’s not there,” he told reporters Thursday at the White House. On Fox News, he sidestepped again: “What the King thinks? Not my lane—His Majesty’s got his own vibe.” Oh, and he hand-delivered Trump a fancy invite from Charles for a state dinner. Awkward much?
With Trump’s tariffs looming and sovereignty on the line, Trudeau’s royal sit-down has Canadians wondering: will the King break his silence, or is this all just another episode in the Trump Show?