Donald Trump’s national security advisor Mike Waltz made the eyebrow-raising claim Sunday that Canadians are eager to renounce their nationality and join the United States.
In an interview on Meet the Press with Kristen Welker, the security chief said he learned from Canadian expats in Florida that their fellow countrymen want to abandon the nation because of “liberal” policies.
“I think the Canadian people would—many of them would—love to join the United States with no tariffs, with lower taxes,” he said in response to a question about how outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that President Trump was “serious” about annexing the country.
“I have all kinds of neighbors down in Florida that are Canadians that are escaping, many of the liberal policies and have moved in,” he said.
Welker interjected, “I think some Canadians would disagree with you.”
“But just yes or no-is [Trump] planning to annex Canada?”
“Sure,” Waltz admitted. “I don’t think there’s any plans to invade Canada, if that’s what you’re talking about. But there are a lot of people that like what we have in the United States, and do not like the last 10 years of liberal, progressive governance under Trudeau.”
The national security adviser also attempted to explain the reasoning behind Trump’s audacious foreign policy ambitions.
“Really, what you’re seeing is a reassertion of American leadership in the Western Hemisphere, from the Arctic all the way down to the Panama Canal and and that’s what we’re talking about, from Greenland to Arctic security to the Panama Canal coming back under the United States.”
“America has avoided our own hemisphere where we have the energy, the food and the critical minerals for way too long, and you’re seeing a reassertion of President Trump’s leadership.”
Trump has intervened on matters beyond the western hemisphere.
His recent proposal to remove Palestinians from their homes and build the “Riviera of the Middle East” in Gaza drew the ire of several Arab nations and many of his critics, as well as confusion from some of his own supporters.
Waltz introduced a new and previously unknown explanation for Trump’s comments.
“He’s asking, in a humane way, what is going to happen to these people,” Waltz claimed. “And everyone around the region says their heart breaks for the Palestinians, rightly so. But then come to the table with your plan if you don’t like his plan.”
He also claimed the comments have had a positive effect on diplomacy in the region.
“We are seeing all kinds of outreach since the president made that statement of saying ‘let’s help you take this on.’ And so those conversations are ongoing right now.”
