Summary

Donald Trump’s push to annex Canada as the 51st U.S. state is confusing due to its sudden and unexplained emergence.

Initially praising Canada as an ally, Trump now aggressively seeks annexation, imposing tariffs, criticizing trade deficits, and challenging established borders and treaties.

Former officials and congressional Republicans express bewilderment, stating they have “no clue” about Trump’s motivation.

Canadian leaders and the U.S. business community strongly oppose the move, citing sovereignty and economic harm.

Republicans also question Trump’s strategy, noting annexation would add millions of liberal-leaning voters and complicate American politics.

  • teft@lemmy.world
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    16 hours ago

    I mean it really isn’t confusing if you look at it through the lens of Putin told his lackey to fuck up everything he could concentrating on wrecking our strongest trading and defense relationships.

    Seen through that lens it’s very clear what the agenda is: Weaken the US and its allies.

  • FaceDeer@fedia.io
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    14 hours ago

    Republicans also question Trump’s strategy, noting annexation would add millions of liberal-leaning voters and complicate American politics.

    You mean millions of insurgents literally trying to murder every Republican politician and burn America to the ground. Not sure why their voting habits would be relevant in the face of that.

    I think a lot of Americans are completely unaware of just how fucking furious we are at this flippant talk of destroying our country and subjugating our people. Even a lot of the ones who are unsympathetic to Trump don’t understand just what this kind of talk means to us.

  • Carmakazi@lemmy.world
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    16 hours ago

    Why believe Congressional Republicans at their word when they say they don’t support this talk or don’t know where it is coming from? They’re collaborator filth. They will “suddenly” fall in line when something actionable is put forth.

  • evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world
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    16 hours ago

    It’s not really confusing. His whole strategy, as we saw during his first term, is to do and say so much outrageous stuff that no particular scandal can stick with him. He also thinks being a bully is being a good businessman.

    I doubt he would actually want to annex anywhere, but it’s easy ragebait that he can keep bringing up to keep news on that and off of his crimes.

    • showmeyourkizinti@startrek.website
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      8 hours ago

      Bull pucks. The man isn’t playing 4-D chess with the News, he’s not even do a deliberate Gish-Gallop. He’s just saying the first thing that pops in to his head. And right now that’s I want to go down in history as the greatest president ever. He thinks if he expands the US he’ll be bigger then Jefferson.

    • NotLemming@lemm.ee
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      12 hours ago

      I don’t agree. I think he will really do it. Spewing out everything at once is benefitting him/project 2025 but it would be a mistake to think it’s just talk at this point. That’s why Canadian politicians are being so strong on this. It’s really happening.

    • PhilipTheBucket@ponder.cat
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      16 hours ago

      Agreed. The outlandish stuff is actually a little bit safer. Actually dangerous geopolitical stuff that might kick off something he can’t control, because it might realistically happen, he avoids like the plague unless it carries some kind of strong benefit to him personally. He just likes to talk shit because it’s fun. I don’t think it is any more complicated than that.

      I suspect that this is why Musk was brought in. Musk is actually willing to take an axe to the main pillars of the building, in a lot more energetic and systematized fashion than Trump would be inclined to.

  • PearOfDees@lemmy.world
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    12 hours ago

    The Canadians are our homies, why would orange want to hurt our homie? They’ve been with us thru thick and thin, and now orange wants to fuck things up for us? Don’t think we want this either dear Canadians, those ball guzzlers just regurgitate whatever orange says. Even if it hurts us, by Canadian goods only until orange leaves office, if not sooner because homies should only kiss, not attack.

  • frustrated_phagocytosis@fedia.io
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    14 hours ago

    It’s not confusing, he’s a megalomaniac who thinks foreign policy should resemble a game of Risk. Outside a tight circle of influence, everyone else is disposable meat that annoys him and deserves whatever punishment they receive. It’s not new behavior.

    • corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca
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      13 hours ago

      How tight is that circle? Mr Trump seemed to abandon Mr Giuliani at a crucial time, and I thought the two were thick as thieves.

      • frustrated_phagocytosis@fedia.io
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        13 hours ago

        Giuliani was a useful idiot with a law degree and a certain amount of 9/11 good will. Better idiots with fewer ethical standards and law degrees are throwing themselves at him, and he doesn’t need to pretend to give a fuck about American lives or first responders now that he’s in power. Like everyone else who rode the 9/11 wave and thought it was amazing for poll numbers and easy fundraising.

  • 4am@lemm.ee
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    12 hours ago

    It’s not confusing - they know climate change is real and they want more northern territories for when the shit hits the fan so they have somewhere to go

    Can’t stop big oil though because you can’t run a military on batteries yet and besides, muh Raytheon stock

  • RowRowRowYourBot@sh.itjust.works
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    16 hours ago

    Climate change will make the southern 2/3 of the USA unlivable within a few decades. Canada has a lot of land. Trump’s teamwants it and the resources within.

    • CurlyWurlies4All@slrpnk.net
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      3 hours ago

      I don’t know what people find so confusing about this. This is the business mindset. If you’re not growing your failing. Empires get bigger by taking more land. Therefore the American empire must take more land. It’s not rocket science. It’s a child’s view of ‘winning’.