TheophilusOne wrote - "He (Trump) wanted to test the waters with the new PM, and brought up that ridiculous 51 state. I am sure he was livid when he found out it was a no go with this guy too."

Actually, no, he wasn't "livid" he was very much in a matter of fact attitude and relaxed tone of voice "time will tell", he says, "never say never".


TRUMP AND CARNEY and 51 state talk

Trump: you know, as a real estate developer, you know, I?m a real estate developer at heart, when you get rid of that artificially drawn line ? somebody drew that line many years ago...when it?s together... when I looked at that, I said, that?s the way it was meant to be. I do feel it?s much better for Canada. But we?re not going to be discussing that unless someone wants to discuss it.

Carney: As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale. ... And having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign, last several months, it?s not for sale. Won?t be for sale, ever.

Trump: Time will tell. It?s only time. But I say never say never. I?ve had many, many things that were not doable, and they ended up being doable and only doable in a very friendly way. But if it?s to everybody?s benefit, you know, Canada loves us and we love Canada, that?s, I think the No. 1 thing that?s important, but we?ll see. Over time, we?ll see what happens.

I have not heard much of anything from my fellow Americans that suggests they are interested in making Canada the 51st state. There seems to be a profound lack of interest as far as I can see. I had myself thought in the past that if they wished to join with us, that would be fine with me. But I always felt it should be something that they want and push for rather than it being pushed by an American president. And if they did not wish to join us, that is fine too. That there seems to be a lack of interest on the part of Americans probably means they either are totally disinterested or else they think rather like I do, that if the Canadians want to do that, its up to them. I am not wanting to be pushing them to do this. I am very surprised that Trump is pushing this and I have to wonder if Canadians are a bit insulted by it.

Trump often makes wild statements in order to get something that he wants. He will stake out an outlandish position and then when he begins to get what he wants, the outlandish talk tends to quiet down or disappear. So, I rather think that this talk from him is likely to eventually go away. I am hearing a lot less of it these days.

As for his talk about acquiring Greenland, that concerns me more because he even hinted at military action to take it. I do not think the people of this country would support him on that and I tend to think this is again another one of his tactics to get something he wants. But military action threats should never be entirely blown off as if they are nothing. I do know that Greenland has valuable rare earth metals that he would rather the USA be getting at them instead of China, and that is what is driving much of this. I would far rather this be settled with an agreement with Denmark rather than something more serious. I rather think he is likely to be wiling to settle for something less in the long run so that this ends quietly and peacefully.