Trump repeats jibes at Canada and Greenland after Trudeau's resignation

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has repeated his seemingly far-fetched suggestions that the US should take over Greenland and Canada, the latter coming hours after long-standing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation.

Trudeau stepped down on Monday, citing internal battles and an unproductive government. "This country deserves a real choice," the now-former leader said, bringing an end to almost a decade in power.

In response, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that if Canada merged with the US: "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 that are constantly surrounding them."

Trump added, "The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned."

It's not the first time Trump has mused about Canada becoming part of the US. In December he claimed that "many" Canadians wanted the nations to merge, however, a recent Leger poll suggests that the number is around 13%.

Trudeau announced he would be stepping down both as prime minister and as leader of his ruling Liberal party, which will hold a fresh leadership contest to replace him.

Critics suggested the timing of his resignation was ill-thought-out, as it comes weeks before Trump is set to be inaugurated as president of the US. Trump has threatened to impose sweeping 25% tariffs on Canadian goods on his first day in power.

"The resignation means there is now very little that Trudeau can do now to stave off Trump's tariff threat," former Canadian ambassador to the US David MacNaughton told CBC News on Monday.

MacNaughton said Trudeau should have made the move months ago so that Canada could prepare for Trump's tariff threats. Economists have warned that if they were imposed, they would significantly hurt the Canadian economy.

Trump also repeated his claim that the US would take over Greenland in a post on Monday night.

“I am hearing that the people of Greenland are ‘MAGA’. My son, Don Jr, and various representatives, will be traveling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights," the president-elect said.

“Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation,” Trump wrote as his son, Donald Trump Jr, is set to head to Greenland.

Danish broadcaster DR cited the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mininnguaq Kleist, that Trump Jr's visit would be a personal one and there were no inquiries for him to meet with Greenland's government.

The North Atlantic island was a Danish colony until it became a self-governing territory of Denmark in 1979. In January its prime minister, Mute Egede, repeated calls for the island to hold an independence referendum.

Egede has not yet commented on Trump's recent claims, but in December said that Greenland was "not for sale and will never be for sale."

Trump has made claims on Greenland before. When announcing his choice for US ambassador to Denmark, he wrote: “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity."

In his first term, he cancelled a scheduled trip to Denmark in August 2019 after Denmark's prime minister dismissed the idea of the US taking over the island.

Greenland sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans and is home to a large US military base.

Greenland's parliament member, Aaja Chemnitz, wrote on Facebook that the people of Greenland should reject the president-elect's jibes.

"Don’t let Trump control the Greenland election campaign and leave the population as losers in that game,” Chemnitz wrote, adding that it was “incredible that some can be so naive to think happiness is made by us becoming American citizens.” — Euronews