Canadians Reject Trump’s Plan

Recent polling data reveals that a vast majority of Canadians are firmly opposed to the idea of their country merging with the United States—an idea President Donald Trump raised in recent remarks. According to YouGov surveys conducted in both countries, 77 percent of Canadians are against the merger, while only 15 percent support it. About 8 percent remain undecided.

The resistance to merging with the U.S. is consistent across party lines, with at least 70 percent of Canadians who voted for major political parties in the 2021 federal election expressing opposition to such a proposal. President Trump’s comments began in December when he mockingly referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the “governor” of Canada. The notion was revived after Trudeau announced he would resign ahead of Canada’s upcoming election, leading Trump to suggest that the merger could eliminate tariffs between the two nations.

This proposal comes on the heels of Trump’s threats to impose a 25 percent tariff on both Canada and Mexico in response to concerns over illegal immigration and the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. Trump has also highlighted trade imbalances with both countries, who are among America’s largest trading partners.

Prime Minister Trudeau responded, stating that Canada would “not back down” in the face of any potential tariff threats, promising a firm counter-response if such measures were put in place.

Interestingly, while Canadians overwhelmingly reject the idea, Americans are more divided. According to the same poll, 36 percent of U.S. adults support the potential merger, while 42 percent are opposed, and 22 percent are unsure. The idea of such a union is seen as a significant challenge by both countries, with 74 percent of Canadians and 68 percent of Americans believing it would be difficult to fully integrate the two nations.

Ultimately, the vast majority of Canadians view the merger as a bad deal for their country, with 68 percent saying it would have negative consequences. In contrast, Americans are more split on the issue, with 32 percent believing it would harm Canada, while 29 percent view it as a beneficial move.

The poll, conducted from January 16-28, had a margin of error of around three to four percentage points.