Donald Trump really knows how to add an inappropriate level of crazy to every conversation. That much has been apparent for nearly a decade. What used to be mostly harmless idiocy before he was handed the reigns of the most powerful country in the world has turned into joking-at-first ideas that terrify the world.

His latest trip off the rails started back in November, when he met for a dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The dinner followed Trump’s threat to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods until they “solve” immigration and drug trafficking problems from their side of the border, a request that was completely untethered from reality.

During that dinner, Trump joked about their semi-standoff, saying that “maybe Canada should become the 51st state.” He then followed it up on Truth Social with a badly-done AI photo of him standing under a Canadian flag in the mountains (with the Matterhorn inexplicably in the foreground) under the caption “Oh, Canada!”

He even referred to the Prime Minister in a tweet as “Governor” Trudeau, suggesting that Canada was already part of the United States of America.

After the event, Canadian officials brushed it off as a joke. But it doesn’t sound like a joke anymore.

Instead, Trump is beginning to sound like Vladimir Putin, in his effort to annex Ukraine. On Monday, he made another post on Truth Social remarking on the departure of Canada’s Finance Minister, once again referring to the country as a state and Trudeau as a Governor:

The Great State of Canada is stunned as the Finance Minister resigns, or was fired, from her position by Governor Justin Trudeau. Her behavior was totally toxic, and not at all conducive to making deals which are good for the very unhappy citizens of Canada. She will not be missed!!!

Today, Trump took to social media at three o’clock in the morning — his time — to post what initially sounded like a continuation of the “joke,” but quickly became serious, with a claim that Canada’s own citizens would welcome his attempt to take over the country.

No one can answer why we subsidize Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year? Makes no sense! Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it is a great idea. 51st State!!!

All of this comes at a bad time for Trudeau, who is already wrestling with his popularity at home over a slew of issues, not least of which is being seen as weak when it comes to dealing with Donald Trump. But Trump is just pouring gas on the flames by insulting him, and Canada, over and over with no pushback — essentially proving Trudeau’s critics right.

Canadian citizens are most assuredly opposed to becoming part of the US. A poll conducted between December 6–9 by Léger, a Canadian polling firm not unlike America’s Rasmussen, Quinnipiac, or Pew Research Center, showed that there wasn’t even 20% support for such an idea in any of the country’s six largest provinces (the remaining four were not polled, but are even more libertarian in nature than the larger areas).

Trump’s Putin-like role playing as a dictator who could simply invade or annex the country of 40 million people is troubling at a time when people already see him as a fascist who simply does whatever he likes without consequence.

But even if Trump tried and succeeded, he would quickly find he had bitten off more than he could chew. Although Canada’s GDP is smaller than California’s, it would immediately become the largest state in the US both by land mass and population. The people of Canada are already used to “death with dignity” laws, federally-legalized marijuana use, and most importantly, socialized medicine.

As even the Léger poll shows, it would be an even “bluer” state than California or Massachusetts. The size of the House of Representatives would increase according to the Constitution, with about 80% of lawmakers representing the political left. The Electoral College would be nearly obviated, and the possibility of a conservative popular vote win for president would be a distant memory.

In short, making Canada a state would be the GOP’s worst nightmare.

But Trump doesn’t think before he speaks. He just loves the idea of power, and if it comes with the added benefit of making another world leader look foolish or weak, so much the better for him.

That sounds like a familiar voice, and I think I hear a Russian accent.