Trump Ties Canada's Golden Dome Entry to U.S. Statehood Offer
- The New York Editorial Desk - Arif
- May 28
- 3 min read
Canada told to pay $61B or become the 51st state for free access to the U.S. missile shield
Tone & Political Bias: Moderately Right Leaning
Why: Emphasis on U.S. dominance, Trump’s narrative positioning Canada as “unequal,” and limited critical scrutiny of annexation remarks.
Trump Demands $61B From Canada for Missile Defense Participation
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Canada would need to pay $61 billion USD to join the proposed Golden Dome missile defense system, unless it agrees to become the 51st state of the United States, in which case access would be free.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump stated that the cost applies “if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation,” but said there would be no charge “if they become our cherished 51st State.” Trump also claimed that Canada is “considering” the proposal, though no evidence was presented to confirm this.
Canada Reaffirms Sovereignty as Trump Revives Annexation Remarks
Trump’s message came just hours after King Charles delivered a throne speech in Ottawa, which reaffirmed Canada's independence. During the speech, Prime Minister Mark Carney outlined a new security policy direction, including plans for Canada to join Europe’s rearmament initiative, ReArm Europe, aiming for membership by July 1.
Carney told CBC’s Power & Politics that this move seeks to reduce Canada's reliance on the U.S. for defense systems and munitions.
Trump’s post also marks the first time he has reintroduced the "51st state" idea since his May 6 meeting with Carney in the Oval Office, despite U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra stating days earlier that the issue was no longer being discussed.
Canadian Officials Respond to Trump’s Ultimatum
In response to Trump’s remarks, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office told CBC that Canada is in ongoing discussions with the U.S. on defense matters, including the Golden Dome and NORAD.
“The prime minister has been clear at every opportunity, including in his conversations with President Trump, that Canada is an independent, sovereign nation, and it will remain one,” the statement read.
The government emphasized it has a strong mandate to redefine the U.S.-Canada security and economic partnership and that talks with American officials remain “constructive.”
What Is the Golden Dome?
The Golden Dome is a proposed continental missile defense system inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, but on a much larger and more complex scale.
Trump has said the Golden Dome will:
Be built in three years
Cost around $175 billion USD
Use a mix of existing and future space-based technologies
Defend against missiles launched from space and foreign adversaries
However, experts and defense analysts estimate the true cost could reach $1 trillion USD, with a 20-year timeline needed to complete development. The system would also require cooperation across multiple U.S. administrations.
Global Reactions and Risks
The plan has drawn international criticism, particularly from China, which warned that the Golden Dome could escalate militarization in space and lead to a renewed arms race involving China, Russia, and other nations with growing space-defense programs.
The potential implications include:
Heightened tensions in space and cyber domains
A broader geopolitical split between Western and Eastern military alliances
Concerns over unilateral decision-making by the U.S. without allied consensus
U.S.-Canada Defense Relationship Under Scrutiny
The incident comes at a delicate time in U.S.-Canada relations, as both countries weigh the future of NORAD and other defense alliances. While Canada has expressed interest in strengthening shared security, Trump’s push for a $61B price tag — or statehood — has sparked renewed debates about sovereignty and military independence.
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