WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a recent appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, dismissed claims that the administration has any intentions of invading Canada.
Waltz asserted that the president is not pursuing any plans to annex Canada, despite reports that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had, in a closed-door meeting with business leaders last week, suggested the Trump administration was discussing making Canada the 51st state.
Waltz noted that many Canadians are dissatisfied with what they describe as the “last 10 years of liberal, progressive governance” under Trudeau. “What you’re witnessing is a reassertion of American leadership throughout the Western Hemisphere—from the Arctic right down the Panama Canal,” Waltz explained.
He emphasised that America is now re-engaging with its own backyard, tapping into its abundant resources of energy, food, and critical minerals that have been overlooked for too long, thanks to a renewed focus under Trump’s leadership.
Prior to his second inauguration, Trump had publicly discussed bold plans, including annexing Greenland and reclaiming control of the Panama Canal—ambitions that were also echoed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a recent visit to Panama.
In a separate pre-taped segment on Fox News’ “Special Report,” which aired ahead of the Super Bowl, Trump was asked whether his idea of making Canada the 51st state was serious.
The president confirmed the notion, stating, “Yeah, it is.” He elaborated, arguing that Canada would benefit from statehood, adding, “I think Canada would be much better off being a 51st state, because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada. And I’m not going to let that happen. It’s too much. Why are we paying $200 billion annually, essentially in subsidy to Canada? Now, if they’re a 51st state, I don’t mind doing it.”
Turning to domestic fiscal policy, Waltz also addressed the administration’s drive to reduce government spending. Citing his extensive experience with the Department of Defense (DoD)—which boasts a budget of over $800 billion—Waltz remarked that the DoD often overspends, takes too long to deliver results, and ultimately provides insufficient value for the soldiers it supports.
His comments highlighted a broader plan to aggressively cut costs across federal agencies.
Trump has indicated that he intends to direct Elon Musk, who now heads the Department of Government Efficiency, to scrutinize spending at both the Department of Education and the DoD.
“I’m going to tell him very soon, maybe in 24 hours, to check the Department of Education. He’s going to find the same thing,” Trump said during an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier.
He added, “Then I’m going to go to the military. Let’s check the military. We’re going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse. And, you know, the people elected me on that.”
When pressed on whether Musk is the right person to oversee cuts in the Defense Department, Waltz refrained from a detailed answer, simply stating, “All of the appropriate firewalls will be in place,” while praising Musk’s achievements, including his work with SpaceX.
This series of remarks underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to reasserting U.S. leadership both abroad and at home while implementing sweeping budget cuts aimed at streamlining federal operations.
