Canadians are biting back at Donald Trump after his threat to take over Canada.
Elizabeth May, a lawmaker who leads Canadaâs Green Party, offered to take in California, Oregon, and Washington with the promise of some perks: free health care and stricter gun laws.
âWe got a deal for you. You think we want to be the 51st state? Nah,â May said during a press conference Wednesday. âMaybe California would like to be the 11th province. How about it? California, Oregon, Washington?â
The two countries have been hashing it out the past week after the U.S. president-elect threatened to take Canada by economic force.
She then directed a message for the three stateâs governors, Gavin Newsom, Tina Kotek, and Jay Inslee: âWant to put a referendum to your citizens?â
âDonald, think about it. You could get rid of all these states that always vote Democrat,â May said. âYou know what else? Weâll take Bernie Sanders off your hands.â
May is not the first Canadian official to shoot back at the president. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Monday that instead of Canada becoming part of the U.S., the country could purchase Alaska and Minnesota.
âHow about if we buy Alaska? And weâll throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time. You know, itâs not realistic,â Ford said of Trumpâs proposals. He later clarified that he was joking when he made the comment.
Other officials, including the outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, said there âisnât a snowballâs chance in hellâ that Canada would become a part of the United States. That hasnât stopped Trump from adding fuel to the fire on social media.
âWeâre not a big nation for braggarts and bullies,â she said. âWe actually like to think weâre of service in the world.â