President Donald Trump took a swipe at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he once again suggested Canada should consider becoming the 51st state. During an Oval Office meeting that took place on Thursday,

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says President Donald Trump’s talk of making Canada the 51st state is “a real thing” and is linked to the country’s rich natural resources.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in a talk with business leaders, said Canada’s wealth of critical minerals are behind Mr. Trump’s comments about making its northern neighbor a U.S. state.

President Trump ratified an executive order that pledged to impose a tariff of 25% on all goods from Canada, as well as a 10% tariff

President Donald Trump has repeatedly said Canada should be the 51st U.S. state, erasing the 5,525-mile border the nations share and alleviating the need for tariffs he’s threatened against one of America’s top allies.

Even as Canada’s prime minister announced more than $100 billion in retaliatory tariffs, he made clear that he was imposing them reluctantly.

President Trump said Thursday that Canada is a “serious contender” to become the 51st state, alleging that America’s neighbor to the north needs US “protection.” Trump, 78, has repeatedly floated the idea of Canada joining the Union — even mockingly referring to outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor” — and revisited the topic while signing a memorandum ordering reciprocal tariffs on countries around the world.