• Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien celebrates his 91st birthday with a strong rebuke of Donald Trump.
• Chrétien labeled Trump’s comments about Canada becoming a U.S. state as “unacceptable insults” and a threat to national sovereignty.
• He emphasized Canada’s resilience and independence in response to Trump's expansionist rhetoric.
• Chrétien warned that such threats will not win Canada’s favor and reflected on the country's strong bond with the U.S.
• Many Canadian officials are concerned about new tariffs Trump has threatened on Canadian goods.

In a passionate response to remarks made by President-elect Donald Trump suggesting that Canada should become the 51st state, former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien offered stark advice: “Give your head a shake!” Celebrating his 91st birthday, Chrétien's comments underline the outrage felt across Canada, deeming Trump's statements as wholly unacceptable and undermining to Canada’s sovereignty, as reported in AP News.

Chrétien, who served as prime minister from 1993 to 2003, accused Trump of making “totally unacceptable insults,” asserting that Canadians would never relinquish their identity or independence to join the United States. Writing in Canada’s Globe and Mail, Chrétien articulated a strong sense of national pride, stating, “What could make you think that Canadians would ever give up the best country in the world — and make no mistake that is what we are — to join the United States?”

Trump’s remarks regarding Canadian statehood were part of a broader pattern of aggressive rhetoric aimed at several allies, including proposals for the U.S. to extend its influence over territories such as Greenland and the Panama Canal. While many European leaders have responded cautiously to Trump’s remarks, Canadian officials, especially Chrétien, have expressed a robust defense of their national integrity, with Chrétien remarking, “If you think that threatening and insulting us is going to win us over, you really don’t know a thing about us.”

The strong diplomatic relationship between Canada and the U.S. is underscored by significant economic ties, as the U.S. imports about 60% of its crude oil from Canada, with nearly $3.6 billion Canadian worth of goods crossing the border daily. However, the looming threat of a 25% tariff on Canadian products by the incoming Trump administration has Canadian officials on high alert, echoing sentiments heard during Trump’s first term when similar tariffs led to retaliatory measures from Canada against U.S. goods, according to HuffPost.

As the political landscape shifts with Trump's upcoming presidency, the implications of such remarks and potential policies on the Canada-U.S. relationship continue to provoke serious concern among Canadian leaders and the general public alike.