The premier of Ontario, Canada, suggested that the country make a counteroffer to President-elect Donald Trump of purchasing Alaska from the United States and throwing in "Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time."
Doug Ford made the comments, later saying that he was joking, in response to Trump's ongoing ruminations of merging with Canada to become the 51st state of the U.S. "Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State," Trump said Monday.
"You know something, to the president, I'll make him a counteroffer: How about if we buy Alaska and throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time?" Ford said Monday while speaking with reporters after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's announcement that he's stepping down.
Minneapolis would ostensibly already be included with any purchase of Minnesota; however, Ford would later tell CNN he was joking.
"It's not realistic," Ford added when asked about Trump's 51st state remarks. "I know he likes making these comments, and he likes joking around. I take that seriously. He may be joking, but under my watch, that will never, ever happen."
Trump kept at it on Tuesday, saying he would use "economic force" to urge Canada to become America's 51st state.
"Because Canada and the United States, that would really be something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like, and it would also be much better for national security," Trump said during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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