guides
What's With Memes About Canada Becoming The '51st State'? The Jokes About Canada Joining The United States Explained
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on January 6th and the United States President-elect Donald Trump quickly reacted to the news by pitching an unusual offer to the neighboring country — for Canada to merge with the U.S. as its 51st state.
The idea of Canada potentially becoming the 51st state isn't exactly new, but it has triggered numerous discussions, jokes and memes over the last month projecting a future in which the country becomes part of the U.S.
So why the resurgence of the topic lately? Here's all you need to know about Trump's "51st State" pitch and how the internet is responding to the controversial proposal.
What Is The 'Canada 51st State' Controversy?
The phrase "51st state" has been used to describe territories people have proposed adding to the United States, thereby creating the 51st state (such as territories like Puerto Rico). In December 2024, President-elect Donald Trump, who never had a great relationship with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, decided to troll Trudeau with a joke about Canada becoming the 51st state.
Trump posted an AI-generated photo of himself standing next to a Canadian flag to Truth Social. The caption read, "Oh Canada!"
As these comments made headlines, they spurred a flurry of memes and satirical content online, often poking fun at the suggestion of Canada’s joining the United States.
Why Does Donald Trump Want Canada To Be The 51st State?
Donald Trump’s push for Canada to consider becoming the 51st state stems from satirical and political motivations, as Trump expressed concerns about illegal immigration along the U.S.-Canada border and highlighted Canada’s $100 billion trade deficit with the United States. The U.S. President-elect jokingly suggested to Trudeau that incorporating Canada into the country could streamline trade and resolve immigration issues.
How Is The Idea Of 'Canada The 51st State' Being Memed Online?
The internet quickly seized upon Trump’s remarks and filled social media with more jokes and memes about Canada's theoretical annexation to the United States. For example, Senator Bernie Sanders quoted a Fox News tweet about the news on December 3rd, pushing for the U.S. to adopt Canada's public healthcare system if the neighboring country joins the other states.
Additionally, many users produced altered maps of North America, playfully reassigning territories and poking fun at regional identities. For instance, On December 10th, X user @MrRaceBannon posted an altered map of North America, labeling California and New York as Canadian territories.
The jokes about Canada becoming the 51st state continued in January 2025 as Trump remarked mere hours after Trudeau announced he was stepping back as the country's Prime Minister, writing on his Truth Social platform, "If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships."
For the full history of Canada 51st State, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.
