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President Trump reiterated his desire to assume ownership of Canada and Gaza Sunday – claiming the neighboring country and Middle Eastern territory would be better off under United States control.
The president addressed the two seemingly unlikely scenarios leading up to his attendance at Super Bowl LIX as he battles with Canada over possible tariffs and looks at next steps for the Palestinian enclave amid a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Trump told Fox News in a prerecorded, pregame interview that turning Canada into America’s 51st state is a real thing he’s considering in response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau telling business leaders last week Trump is serious about absorbing Canada.
“I think Canada would be much better off being a 51st state. Because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada,” Trump claimed to Fox News’ Bret Baier.
“And I’m not going to let that happen, it’s too much. Why are we paying $200 billion a year essentially in subsidy to Canada? Now if they are a 51st state, I don’t mind doing it.”
Trump threatened to enact massive tariffs on Canada, as well as Mexico, but shelved the action for at least 30 days last week after the two countries agreed to invest more in border protection.
The Republican also repeated his pledge to pursue taking over Gaza while talking to reporters on Air Force One on the way to New Orleans where the Super Bowl was hosted between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
“I’m committed to buying and owning Gaza. As far as us rebuilding it, we may give it to other states in the Middle East to build sections of it,” Trump said.
“Other people may do it through our auspices. But we’re committed to owning it, taking it, and making sure that Hamas doesn’t move back. There’s nothing to move back into. The place is a demolition site. The remainder will be demolished.”
Trump claimed other Arab nations would welcome in Palestinians who would be displaced, insisting they don’t want to come back to Gaza.
“They don’t want to return to Gaza. If we could give them a home in a safer area — the only reason they’re talking about returning to Gaza is they don’t have an alternative,” he said.
“When they have an alternative, they don’t want to return to Gaza.”
Trump first raised the idea last week and Israel has shown interest in resettling Gaza’s population, though Hamas, which controls the strip now, has rejected the idea. Other countries are also against the proposal.
Egypt announced it would host an emergency Arab summit on Feb. 27 to talk about the “new and dangerous developments.”
Fighting in the volatile region has stopped during a cease-fire deal between the Jewish state and Hamas with hostages held in Gaza being released over a six-week period.
Another three Israelis were freed over the weekend, though the trio looked gaunt as they emerged from captivity.
Trump said on Air Force One the three looked like Holocaust survivors as he suggested he was losing patience with Hamas.
“I watched the hostages come back today and they looked like Holocaust survivors,” he said.
“They were in horrible condition. They were emaciated. It looked like many years ago, the Holocaust survivors, and I don’t know how much longer we can take that.”
