U.S. President Donald Trump has stirred controversy by proposing that Canada could join America’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system for free—if it becomes the 51st U.S. state. In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed Canada would otherwise need to pay $61 billion to participate. “I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State,” Trump wrote, suggesting Canada is “considering the offer.”
The statement comes after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reportedly expressed interest in the $175 billion missile defense initiative. However, a spokesperson for Carney reaffirmed Canada’s sovereignty, rejecting the notion of statehood, according to the Financial Times.
Trump’s remarks mark a continuation of his provocative claims about U.S.-Canada relations. While the two nations are longstanding defense partners through the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which monitors airborne threats, Trump’s Golden Dome plan goes further. It envisions a space-based missile defense system designed to intercept advanced threats, including ICBMs, hypersonic weapons, and long-range cruise missiles.
Trump has pledged to complete the Golden Dome by the end of his term, raising questions about international cooperation and the cost-sharing dynamics of this massive defense project. The idea of Canada joining the system has generated diplomatic friction, especially with the added suggestion that it must surrender sovereignty to avoid the price tag.
With tensions rising over defense spending and sovereignty, Trump’s latest statement may deepen debate over Canada-U.S. military cooperation in the age of missile threats and space-based defense systems.