President-elect, Donald Trump has just offered Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau an out in the new tariff hikes planned on Canada. Trump suggested to Trudeau that Canada become the 51st state of the union in order to not have to worry about the tariffs on Canadian goods.

Unless Canada can somehow manage to stop the flow of illegal migrants and drugs across its border with the United States, it should be ready to pay tariffs or become another state.  According to a report by Fox News, the incoming U.S. ruler made the remarks last Friday during a dinner with Trudeau. Trump said that Canada could  not afford his tariffs, then suggested to Trudeau that Canada become the 51st state, which caused the prime minister and others to laugh nervously, sources told Fox News.

Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy told Special Report host Bret Baier on Monday evening: “We are told that when Trudeau told President-elect Trump that new tariffs would kill the Canadian economy, Trump joked to him that if Canada can’t survive without ripping off the U.S. the tune of one hundred billion dollars a year, then maybe Canada should become the 51st state and Trudeau could become its governor.”

Newsweek has contacted Trump’s transition team and Trudeau’s office for comment via email.

Earlier last week, Trump threatened to place 25% tariffs on goods coming from both Canada and Mexico upon inauguration in retaliation for illegal immigration, as well as the “crime and drugs,” coming to the U.S. across the borders between the two countries. Trudeau called Trump shortly thereafter to attempt to dissuade the incoming U.S. president from going ahead with the proposed hike, and on Friday arrived at Trump’s estate at Mar-a-Lago to continue discussions. -RT

Trump Announces Tariffs On Mexico, Canada, And China

After the dinner, Trudeau told reporters he had “an excellent conversation” with Trump, without revealing its details. Trump later called his meeting with Trudeau “productive” and noted that the Canadian prime minister had “made a commitment” to work with the new U.S. administration on Trump’s key points of concern. He did not mention his previous tariff hike threat again.