I was more than halfway through the column I intended to submit for this edition of the Sequim Gazette when my writing mind was overtaken by Donald Trump’s intention to take Canada and make it the 51st state of the USA.

The notion that the USA could take Canada as its own was not a good fit for the near completed column. I knew I had to regroup to accommodate my unpredictable and not-to-be-denied writing mind.

The mere, not to mention absurd, thought the USA would invade and conquer Canada makes me laugh.

How — and, importantly, why — should it be taken as a serious idea?

Yet, our president continues to talk about it and how good it would be for Canada and us.

President Trump talks as if it is the most serious and sensible idea. I am certain he is pleased that once again, he has an idea original to him that no one else ever considered.

Way to go, Donald.

And just how was it that you got to be president of the USA?

No one can find a word from you during the campaign that you planned to move our northern border as far north as the Arctic Ocean, perhaps taking the ocean in too.

Why not?

Alas, I had to abandon the nearly written column and start anew or else be plagued with unrelenting visions of our president wearing a robe and crown and beating King Charles with his scepter.

Why Canada?

I really want to understand our president’s motives in expanding our border to include Canada. What are they?

I submit:

Canada is close and does not have the military strength of the USA so will not cost much in money and lives if the Canadian government and people put up a fight.

Having a similar northern environment as Russia could bring us closer to them and an empathetic friendship.

The most northern point of Canada could become our Siberia where political prisoners could go shovel snow in the dark.

Canada is richer in some natural resources than the USA. The most frequently mentioned are crude oil and natural gas.

Canada is geographically big with few people (about 40 million) and lots of lakes which means lots of room for real estate such as multiple resort developments or the biggest Disney World ever.

Canada would add $1.5 trillion to USA national debt of $3.4 trillion.

Canada is used to having a monarch which is appealing to our president who likes to dress up in a robe and crown. He called himself “king” at least once in public.

The important part for us is less what Trump is called and more that whatever he is called, he intends that the subtitle autocratic ruler is embedded in every version.

Canadians would only represent about 11% of the combined population of USA and Canada, so we do not have to worry about serious pushback or rebellion.

Or do we?

Our BFF Canada.

We have lost our best friend status because Trump has initiated economic war by weaponizing tariffs with the intention of bringing Canada to its financial knees before him.

Like many readers, I have family and friends in Canada. I did not have to ask them or any other Canadian what they thought of Trump’s grand plan for Canada.

The thoughts are somewhere around “arrogantly dumb idea from (unprintable) mad man.”

Indeed, they offered up a variety of unspeakable references about Trump and his newest idea. Arrogant and ignorant were the most used quotable adjectives.

Canada’s governing leaders, the recent Justin Trudeau and the newly installed Mark Carney, not surprisingly rejected the notion. Carney said he would meet with Trump If Canada’s sovereignty is respected. I suggest he not hold his breath; Trump is not into respect.

I wonder what the leaders of other countries think to have to deal with an American president who lodges ultimatums like spitballs at their countries.

I know what it is like for me. I worry the real reason he is doing this is because he is not only mad at Canada but seeking revenge against America and/or Americans. We know Trump seeks revenge for all actions he perceives as insults toward him.

This personality trait is reported to have a “chilling effect” on those who would otherwise criticize, disagree with him, or fail to lavish praise on him.

We need to respect, and be frightened by, the fact that our president demonstrates the combination of outrageous ideas such as tariff wars and motives ruled by his deep insecurity.

Trump has untold power.

________________

Bertha Cooper, an award-winning featured columnist with the Sequim Gazette, spent her career years in health care and is the author of the award-winning “Women, We’re Only Old Once.” Cooper and her husband lived in Sequim for 26 years. Now widowed, Cooper continues to live in the area she has grown to love. Reach her at columnists@sequimgazette.com.