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Fact check: Is Canada getting annexed by the United states ?

Checked on February 9, 2025

1. Summary of the results

The annexation of Canada by the United States is highly unlikely, despite recent rhetoric. While former President Trump has made repeated comments about annexing Canada [1], the process would face significant legal and political obstacles. Any annexation would require:

  • A two-thirds Senate majority [2]
  • Approval from both Congressional chambers [3]
  • Constitutional consent from all Canadian provinces [4]

Current polling shows that 80% of Canadians oppose such a move [3], making it politically unfeasible.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements need to be considered:

  • Resource Motivation: Prime Minister Trudeau suggests Trump's interest is primarily driven by Canada's critical mineral resources [5]
  • Historical Context: The US has historically expanded through various means including cession, occupation, and purchase [6]
  • Legal Pathways: Legal experts outline three theoretical possibilities [4]:

Constitutional/legal means

Purchase

  • Invasion

All of these are considered highly improbable.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself may stem from several sources of misinformation:

  • Conspiracy Theory Connection: Fears about US annexation of Canada are largely tied to unfounded "North American Union" conspiracy theories promoted by far-right groups [7]
  • Political Rhetoric vs Reality: While Washington acknowledges Trump's comments, they are largely treated as either jokes or negotiating tactics rather than serious policy positions [1]
  • Media Amplification: The discussion appears more speculative than based on any concrete threat [4]

Those who might benefit from promoting this narrative include:

  • Far-right political groups pushing conspiracy theories
  • Politicians seeking to leverage resource-related tensions
  • Media outlets benefiting from sensationalized coverage of US-Canada relations
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