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Trump backs off Canada invasion over time and King ties

Source: telegraph.co.uk

TL;DR

Donald Trump told royal biographer Robert Hardman he will not pursue annexing Canada as the 51st US state.
Trump cited Canada's 200 years of history, its anthem "Oh, Canada," and his remaining three and a half years in office as barriers.
The remark shows Trump's respect for King Charles, Canada's head of state, curbed his earlier threats amid trade tensions.[[1]](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2026/04/06/donald-trump-says-he-wont-invade-canada-after-all)[[2]](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trump-king-charles-annex-canada-new-book-9.7153681)

The story at a glance

The Telegraph reports on US President Donald Trump backing away from threats to invade or annex Canada, based on his private chat with British royal biographer Robert Hardman at Mar-a-Lago in late 2025. Hardman raised the issue while discussing Trump's views on the monarchy for his book on the late Queen Elizabeth II. This comes now due to excerpts from the book appearing in UK media like the Daily Mail, timed with the book's April 2026 release and ongoing US-Canada strains from tariffs and rhetoric.[[3]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/royals/article-15708249/Donald-Trump-Queen-Kate-Charles-ROBERT-HARDMAN.html)

Context: Trump has repeatedly called Canada economically dependent on the US and joked about making it the 51st state since his 2024 re-election, peaking when King Charles opened Canada's parliament in May 2025 at new PM Mark Carney's invitation.[[4]](https://globalnews.ca/news/11766263/trump-canada-annexation-king-charles-author)

Key points

Trump had mused about annexing just the northern strip of Canada above the US border, similar to his past interest in Greenland, but dropped it after learning Canada still recognizes King Charles as head of state.[[5]](https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/trump-canada-51st-state-king-charles-royal-biographer)
Hardman urged Trump to "leave Canada alone" as it would upset the King; Trump paused, asked "Do they still recognise the King? Or have they stopped that?" and accepted the point.[[6]](https://www.facebook.com/100091364746529/posts/trump-privately-told-a-british-royal-author-that-canada-becoming-the-51st-state-/896313773424106)
Trump conceded: Canada's long history and national identity make annexation unrealistic in his term, marking a rare limit to his ambitions.[[7]](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-trump-raises-canadian-annexation-in-british-authors-book)
Hardman described this as the clearest sign yet that Trump's "sabre-rattling" at Canada had limits, tied to his admiration for the royals.[[8]](https://www.theroyalobserver.com/p/new-book-reveals-donald-trumps-surprising-question-about-king-charles-that-may-have-saved-canada)
The interview occurred in December 2025; Trump praised both Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles during two UK state visits.[[4]](https://globalnews.ca/news/11766263/trump-canada-annexation-king-charles-author)

Details and context

Trump's threats stemmed from trade disputes, including tariffs, and claims Canada relies on US military and economic protection—rhetoric he used publicly after his 2024 win and into 2025. Canada's government countered by inviting King Charles for a rare throne speech in May 2025, emphasizing sovereignty without naming Trump.

The 5,525-mile US-Canada border, the world's longest undefended one, underscores why invasion talk was always more bluster than plan, but it heightened tensions and sparked Canadian fears per polls.

Hardman's book Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story serializes in the Daily Mail; The Telegraph's piece in its royal family section frames it through Trump's monarchy ties, not just geopolitics.

Trump plans to host King Charles and Queen Camilla soon, signaling ongoing rapport despite US-UK frictions.[[9]](https://www.firstpost.com/vantage/trump-reveals-he-has-no-plans-to-annex-canada-vantage-on-firstpost-vd1861919)

Key quotes

“I suppose the Canadians have got 200 years of history and all that ‘Oh, Canada’ thing… You can’t deal with that in three and a half years. I guess it’s not going to happen!”[[10]](https://www.instagram.com/p/DWzVd_xARue)

— Donald Trump to Robert Hardman, December 2025.

"This was the closest I had heard to an acknowledgement that, as long as Canada had the King, Mr Trump was not going to usurp him. Trump’s connection to the Royal Family was... the primary reason why he was no longer sabre-rattling at Canada."[[11]](https://writeroyalty.substack.com/p/catching-up-with-the-royals-april-b14)

— Robert Hardman in his book.

Why it matters

Trump's retreat highlights how symbolic ties like the monarchy can check even his boldest ideas, easing North American stability amid real tariff fights. For Canadians and border businesses, it lowers invasion fears but leaves trade pressures intact; investors see less risk of escalation. Watch Trump's hosting of King Charles later this month and any fresh tariff moves, as his term has years left for shifts.