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yesterday

Trump Proposes Canada as 51st State to Avoid $61 Billion Golden Dome Fee; Ottawa Rejects

Ottawa’s refusal of statehood follows ongoing, early-stage talks on joining the Golden Dome missile defense program.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump announced his plans for the "Golden Dome," a national ballistic and cruise missile defense system.
President Trump (R) meets with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office at the White House on May 6. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
U.S. President Donald Trump, shown on May 20, says it will cost Canada $61 billion US to join his proposed Golden Dome missile defence system, unless it becomes a 51st state.
Donald Trump

Overview

  • On May 27, President Trump claimed on Truth Social that Canada could avoid a U.S. $61 billion participation fee by becoming the 51st state and receiving free coverage under his proposed Golden Dome missile defense system.
  • The Golden Dome plan would deploy space-based interceptors to shield North America from long-range and hypersonic threats and is estimated to cost $175 billion to build, with potential lifetime costs up to $542 billion.
  • Prime Minister Mark Carney has unequivocally ruled out any U.S. statehood bid, with his office and King Charles III’s parliamentary speech affirming Canada’s sovereignty.
  • Despite rejecting annexation, Canadian and U.S. officials are engaged in preliminary negotiations on Canada’s potential role in the Golden Dome project and modernized NORAD contributions.
  • To diversify its defense partnerships, Carney is also pursuing Canada’s participation in Europe’s ReArm initiative to reduce reliance on U.S. military procurement.