Canadian actor William Shatner has come up with an alternate plan to his native country becoming America’s 51st state.
During a segment on Jesse Watters Primetime, Shatner made a counterproposal to President Trump’s idea fr the U.S. to annex our neighbors to the north.
“Do a real estate deal! Make a counter offer! Let’s offer — Canada offer — to the United States to be the eleventh province! Think of the joy! … It’s the best thing!” the “Star Trek” actor suggested.
Watters chuckled in response, remarked, “He should have said that. And that would have brought the house down.”
.@WilliamShatner: @MarkJCarney should have asked @realDonaldTrump to make America Canada’s 11th province. pic.twitter.com/hj0XeuhLMg
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) May 7, 2025
Shatner made clear that any such idea lacked legitimacy. “I mean, everybody so serious about what is an un-serious offer,” he said.
He pointed to Canada’s history and sacrifice, reminding viewers, “Canada’s been around for a hundred fifty years! Tens of thousands of Canadian soldiers have died in the fight for freedom and making the world playable for all of us. You can’t denigrate that. You can’t deny that.”
Tensions between the two countries have simmered since Trump’s re-election in November, fueled by tariff threats and repeated references to Canada as the future 51st state.
At their first face-to-face meeting at the White House, newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded firmly to the president’s frequent offer.
“As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale,” he told Trump. The president acknowledged, “That’s true.”
“Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign … it’s not for sale. Won’t be for sale, ever,” he continued.
Trump, undeterred, replied, “Never say never.”
JUST IN: A nervous Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will never be for sale, prompting President Trump to say, “Never say never.”
Lmao.
Carney: “Having met with, uh, the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign, uh, last several months, uh, it it’s it’s… pic.twitter.com/lzabDtfzXU
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 6, 2025
Watters tried to keep the proposal in play, comparing it to President Joe Biden’s persistence in proposing to Jill Biden.
“Joe Biden proposed to his wife seven times. (He got) six no’s. But finally Jill said yes. Isn’t it about persistence?” he asked. “You know, Carney says, ‘It’s not for sale.’ Trump says, ‘Never say never.'”
Shatner wasn’t impressed by the analogy. “Persistence becomes insulting,” he responded.
‘Never say never.’ – President Trump pic.twitter.com/meRbWkNHco
— J B (@stayfreeCanada2) May 6, 2025
“Well, maybe that’s what Dr. Jill thought,” Watters pointed out. “But eventually when Joe got on his knees the seventh time, she said yes.”
“Listen, it’s a spurious fight. It’s two noble countries, side-by-side,” Shatner remarked. “I don’t know what all the fuss is about.”
While Carney described the talks with Trump as “very constructive,” he also indicated he requested the president refrain from referring to Canada as part of the United States.
“I told him that it wasn’t useful to repeat this idea, but the president will say what he wants,” Carney said.
Trump described the meeting in a similarly upbeat tone. “We want to do what’s right for our respective peoples, and that’s what’s going to happen,” he told reporters.
President Trump just STUNNED Canada.
Reporter: “Is there anything the Prime Minister could say to you in the course of your meetings with him today that would get you to lift tariffs on Canada?”
Trump: “NO.
Reporter: “Why not?”
Trump: “Just the way it is.” pic.twitter.com/Al4nqNr7GW
— George (@BehizyTweets) May 6, 2025
He made a pointed comment about Carney’s predecessor, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who he used to refer to as “governor.”
“As far as calling him governor Carney, no, I haven’t done that yet, and maybe I won’t. I did have a lot of fun with Trudeau. But I think this is, this is a big step up, it’s a good step up for Canada,” he added.
The president originally sparked backlash earlier this year with a post on Truth Social targeting Trudeau after he announced his resignation.
“Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned,” Trump wrote.
Other famous Canadians have weighed in against Trump’s annexation rhetoric. At the Juno Awards in April, Canadian pop singer Michael Bublé took to the stage with remarks that highlighted national pride and resistance to any merger.
“You guys know I’m a hometown kid – I’m a hometown kid who never left,” Bublé said. “And as I stand here and I look out at my fellow artists … I’m proud to be Canadian.”
Attempting to borrow a quote often attributed to former First Lady Michelle Obama, Bublé declared, “When they go low, we get high,” before correcting himself.
He didn’t name who he meant by “they,” but the target appeared clear. “When you love something, you show up for it, and we always will.”
“We will, because we’re formidable, because we’re fearless, because we don’t just acknowledge our differences, we embrace them,” he continued. “Because they don’t just make us stronger, they make us a hell of lot more interesting.”
Bublé ended the monologue with a direct rebuke to Trump’s suggestion. “We are the greatest nation on earth and we are not for sale.”
American actor Mark Hamill weighed in with a post on Bluesky targeting Trump after Carney was elected.
“Dear Canada. Please accept our deepest apologies from all decent Americans embarrassed by the obnoxious trolling from our man-baby-in-chief who is lacking in both intelligence & any impulse-control whatsoever,” he wrote, adding the hashtag #MakeAmericaNormalAgain.