Collection

Trump Claims America Should Never Have Given Canada Its Independence?

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants to annex Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal.

by Rae Deng, July 30, 2016


A photo collage of U.S. President Donald Trump in front of a vintage-looking world map with a soft warm filter. There are four red pins on the map: One on Greenland, one on the Panama Canal, one on the Gulf of Mexico and another on Canada/North America.

U.S. President Donald Trump and places he either wants to annex or rename.


After the start of his second presidential term, Donald Trump regularly called for the expansion of the United States. On separate occasions, he has floated the idea of annexing Greenland, making Canada the 51st state and reclaiming the Panama Canal. He also signed an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America." 

These claims have sparked rumors that Snopes has fact-checked, including whether Trump actually had a deal to buy Greenland (he did not), whether he called then-Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau "governor" of the "great state of Canada" (he did) and if Panama banned the U.S. president's family from the country for 100 years in response to his stated desire to annex the Panama Canal (it did not). 

Here are 10 stories that unpack claims initiated by Trump's comments on annexing different regions — as well as supposed reactions from leaders of places the president says he wants to take over. 


By Rae Deng

Grace Deng specializes in government/politics and is based in Tacoma, Wash.

A map of Canada and America has many tiny American flags planted upon it.

Breaking down Trump's threats to annex Canada

March 19, 2025

Canada has now responded seriously to an idea thought to be a joke at first.

Read More


Trump didn't say he would annex Alaska and Greenland on Truth Social

March 17, 2025

The president has, however, repeatedly said he would like to make Greenland a U.S. state.

Read More


No Credible Reports Trump's Got a Deal To Buy Greenland

Jan. 8, 2025

The U.S. president-elect had recently expressed renewed interest in the Arctic island after he f ...

Read More


Trump Says US Will Take Back Panama Canal. Here's Its Ownership History

Jan. 20, 2025

Trump began his second presidential term with a series of promises, including the vow to gain co ...

Read More


Yes, Trump Said He Wants to Rename the Gulf of Mexico the 'Gulf of America'

Jan. 7, 2025

The U.S. president-elect said the proposed new name has "a beautiful ring."

Read More


Trump Mocked Canadian PM Trudeau as 'Governor' Following Mar-a-Lago Dinner Discussion

Dec. 12, 2024

The U.S. President-elect shared the remarks on Truth Social, including posting: "Governor Justin ...

Read More


Greenland's Prime Minister Did Not Troll Trump on Social Media

Jan. 20, 2025

The claim that Greenland's prime minister, Múte Bourup Egede, made a cheeky post on social media ...

Read More


No, the Trump Family Was Not Banned by Panama for 100 Years

Jan. 4, 2025

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump did threaten to try to take back the Panama Canal, however.

Read More


Panama Canal Doubling Fees for US Warships? Not Actually

Dec. 31, 2024

Panama's president allegedly said the price hike was "an a-hole tax" for "anyone with orange ski ...

Read More


Trump Claims America Should Never Have Given Canada Its Independence?

July 30, 2016

A satirical site reported that Donald Trump had tweeted about America's giving Canada their inde ...

Read More



Source code