Fox News presenter and conservative radio show host Mark R. Levin has proposed that the U.S. should "give" the Democratic state of Vermont to Canada rather than trying to make the northern country America's 51st state.
Levin said the move would stop an influx of left-leaning voters from taking part in U.S. elections and allow the country to remove Vermont's "Marxist political hacks," such as independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with the Democrats.
Newsweek has contacted Levin's office and Sanders for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The idea that Canada could become the 51st state of the U.S. has been floated by President Donald Trump and his administration so the country can avoid paying higher import tariffs.
What to Know
In a Wednesday post on X, formerly Twitter, Levin, host of Life, Liberty & Levin on Fox News, suggested that Vermont could become part of Canada rather than making Canada part of the U.S.
He noted that making Canada the 51st state could significantly impact how the U.S. is governed, including potentially hindering the GOP's chances of controlling the House and Senate.
Levin warned that Trump's proposal would "make millions of libs American citizens," with Canada currently governed by the Liberal Party.
Levin went on to suggest that conservatives in Vermont could retain their American citizenship, but not liberals in the state as "they're more Canadian than American anyway."
Vermont, which shares a border with Canada, is one of the safest blue states in the U.S.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris defeated Trump in the 2024 election in the Green Mountain State by just over 31 points.
Mark Carney replaces Justin Trudeau as leader of Canada's Liberal Party. He said on Sunday that the country will "never, ever" be part of the U.S.
What People Are Saying
Mark Levin posted on X: "Give Vermont to Canada. Instead of trying to make Canada our 51st state, which would result in two more Democrat senators and who knows how many Democrat congressmen, and make millions of libs American citizens, I suggest we give Canada Vermont so we can get rid of Bernie Sanders and the other Marxist political hacks who run that state. (We could make sure that conservatives in Vermont retain their American citizenship, the libs not so much—they're more Canadian than American anyway.)"
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Tuesday: "We are subsidizing Canada to the tune of more than 200 Billion Dollars a year. WHY??? This cannot continue. The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty-First State. This would make all tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear. Canadians' taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem, and the greatest and most powerful nation in the World will be bigger, better and stronger than ever—and Canada will be a big part of that. The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World."
Mark Carney, Canada's new Liberal Party leader, said in a speech Sunday: "America is not Canada. And Canada never, ever will be part of America in any way, shape or form. We didn't ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves."
What Happens Next
Carney is to be sworn in as Canada's prime minister on Friday. A Canadian general election is expected to be announced soon.
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About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, and Florida ... Read more