Trump Privately Acknowledges Annexing Canada Unlikely, Citing History and Monarchy
US President Donald Trump has privately acknowledged that annexing Canada, according to an extract from a new biography of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The remarks reportedly came late last year when royal biographer Robert Hardman asked Trump to “please leave Canada alone.” Since winning his return ticket to the White House in 2024, Trump had repeatedly floated the idea of annexing Canada, drawing rebukes from Ottawa and allied nations.
Hardman reported that Trump paused to ask whether Canada still recognized the king as head of state, and upon learning it did, complained about Canadian politicians. Trump also suggested the only real problem was the countries’ border placement, implying that a line drawn further north would have prevented the issue.
Ultimately, Trump conceded the idea was not feasible during his term, noting Canada’s roughly 200 years of history, national identity—including what he referred to as the “Oh, Canada thing”—and loyalty to the monarchy. Hardman interpreted the comments as Trump standing down out of deference to King Charles, appearing unwilling to act against Canada while it retains the king as head of state.
