Vice President JD Vance called Canada a “state” on Monday, August 24, and then quickly claimed it was an accident.

Published on: Aug 25, 2026, 09:35:55 IST

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Vice President JD Vance called Canada a “state” on Monday, August 24, and then quickly claimed it was an accident.

“We have to remember, Canada is a state—sorry, Freudian slip,” Vance said during a political event in Maine, after he was asked about the recent heated trade talks between the US and its neighbor. “That was actually an accident.”

He then said that “Canada is a country that has underinvested in its military that quite literally would get invaded by a foreign country were it not for the umbrella of protection provided by the United States of America.”

Vance’s slip-up comes after President Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to Canada as the “51st state,” suggesting that the United States could annex its northern neighbor. Back in March, Trump called Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney the “future Governor of Canada.”

What has Mark Carney and Trump have said

Carney has repeatedly pushed back on Trump's comments. Last year, he said of the suggestion of annexing Canada, “As I’ve said to anyone who’s raised this issue in private or in public, including the President, it will never happen.”

In 2025, TIME asked Trump if he was “trolling a little bit” when he spoke about making Canada a US state, and the president replied, “Actually, no, I’m not.”

Trump took a dig at Canada in a recent Truth Social post, saying, “Without the United States, Canada couldn’t survive”.

“Lots of “bluster” from Doug Ford, who is the Premier of the Canadian Province of Ontario, but who is better known as the less charismatic, intelligent, and overall unimpressive brother of the late, great, Rob Ford. America has been carrying Canada for decades, but no longer! The U.S.A. will always be far bigger, richer, and stronger than Canada. Without the United States, Canada couldn’t survive — It’s where they get all of their money and, because of their current bad leadership, primarily Governor Carney, and his Flunky, Ford, they will not be allowed to keep taking advantage of the United States — Their key to survival,” Trump wrote.

He added, “Remember, much of the Electricity, Oil, and Gas that Canada gets is transported through the U.S.A. Someone should get these clowns to “fall in line” or, the consequences for Canada will be far WORSE! Canada’s Unemployment Rate is now at 10%, and rapidly rising. Their businesses are fleeing for the United States, and it’s all because of their failed policies, and inept leadership! The days of ripping off our Farmers, and other Businesses, are OVER! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

Last year, Trump even shared a distorted map showing Canada as part of the United States. "Oh Canada!” he wrote on Truth Social alongside a picture of a distorted US map.

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