&w=3840&q=100)
Trump's 'Golden Dome' offer to Canada: Pay $61 billion or become 51st state
US President Donald Trump has proposed that Canada pay $61 billion to become part of the 'Golden Dome' missile defence initiative, a system he claims would protect against threats such as ballistic and hypersonic missiles using space-based interceptors. In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump also floated an alternative: Canada could join the system at no cost — by becoming the 51st US state.
'I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State,' Trump wrote. 'They are considering the offer!'
Trump's $175 billion 'Golden Dome' plan
Last week, Trump introduced an ambitious $175 billion missile defence initiative known as the 'Golden Dome', aimed at shielding the nation from a wide range of aerial threats, including those posed by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
'Golden Dome will protect our homeland,' Trump said. 'Once fully constructed, Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space.'
Although the president has placed the total cost at $175 billion, the Congressional Budget Office has cautioned that expenses could exceed $500 billion over the next 20 years. The agency cited the significant technological hurdles and the experimental nature of space-based missile interception.
A Republican-backed reconciliation bill has proposed an initial $25 billion to jump-start the project. However, the proposal faces challenges in Congress, with resistance emerging from both conservative and moderate factions of the Republican Party.
Canada's interested, but details remain unclear
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently acknowledged that discussions are underway regarding Canada's potential involvement in the Golden Dome initiative. He declined to specify any financial commitment, noting that talks were still in their early stages, Bloomberg reported.
While the US and Canada share deep military cooperation through the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad), Trump's rhetoric has often strained diplomatic ties. In the past, he has both launched trade disputes with Canada and publicly suggested that the country should become part of the US.
Canada has previously committed to a significant upgrade of Norad, announcing in 2022 a C$38.6 billion (approximately $28 billion) investment aimed at modernising the joint defence system.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
B'luru stampede: Somanna slams govt, defends suspended top cop
Mysuru: Union minister of state for railways V Somanna on Sunday said even an entire year's state budget cannot compensate for the tragic loss of lives in the stampede at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium. His remarks came in response to questions from the media regarding the Karnataka govt's revised compensation of Rs 25 lakh per victim, up from the initial Rs 10 lakh. "Even the amount of one full year's state budget cannot compensate for the lives lost in the stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium," Somanna said. "Royal Challengers Bengaluru reached the IPL finals after 18 years, and the authorities should have planned accordingly. Unfortunately, the chief minister mishandled the situation. Perhaps, he acted on poor advice from his associates," he added. The minister also criticised the suspension of Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda, calling it unjust. "I've known the work of IPS officer Dayananda for many years. His suspension is unfair, especially when he had no direct role in the stampede. It was a good decision to appoint him as commissioner, and he should be reinstated immediately. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Promoções imperdíveis de voos baratos Voos | Anúncios de Pesquisa Saiba Mais Undo Govt has gone off track, and they must be held accountable for this tragedy," he added. Reflecting on his past association with CM Siddaramaiah, Somanna expressed disappointment over what he described as a shift in leadership style. "I was in the Congress and was very close to Siddaramaiah. I knew him well — he was not like this. Power seems to have changed him. In the Congress party, no other leader in the country has been given the kind of freedom Siddaramaiah enjoys. It looks like he has changed just to survive as chief minister. This is not the Siddaramaiah I once knew," he said. Somanna also spoke about his personal transformation after becoming a Union minister. "In the past year, after becoming minister of railways and observing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's daily routine and work ethic, I've changed myself," he said. "The state govt should take note of how the Prime Minister functions. They should visit Delhi and see his discipline and dedication first hand. I'm deeply impressed by Modi's style of governance," he added.
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
All-party Parliamentary delegation led by Shashi Tharoor wraps up US visit
The all-party Parliamentary delegation wrapped up its visit to the US after meeting with US Vice President J D Vance and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau among political and diplomatic leadership to drive home India's strong resolve to combat terrorism emanating from Pakistan. The delegation, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor , was on the last leg of a multi-nation tour to brief key interlocutors about Operation Sindoor that India launched in retaliation of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. The delegation was one of the seven multi-party delegations India had tasked to visit 33 global capitals to reach out to the international community to emphasise Pakistan's links to terrorism. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Chuck Norris Begs Seniors: Avoid These 3 Foods Like The Plague Roundhouse Provisions Undo The delegation arrived in the US capital on June 3 and over the course of three days held a wide array of meetings on Capitol Hill as well as in Washington, briefing the American government officials as well as lawmakers about India's stance on cross-border terrorism . The Indian team met Vice President Vance, Landau, House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) leadership, India Caucus leadership and Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders and also held meetings and interactions with a host of US Congressmen, think tanks, policy experts, media as well as members of the Indian-American community. Live Events Tharoor described the meeting with Vance at the White House for about 25 minutes on Thursday as "an excellent meeting," and said the vice president was "warm and welcoming and receptive." "Vance expressed complete understanding, first of all, outrage of what happened in Pahalgam and support and respect for India's restrained response in Operation Sindoor," Tharoor told PTI after that meeting. After the delegation met Landau on Friday, a statement by State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that the Deputy Secretary of State "reaffirmed the United States' strong support of India in the fight against terrorism and the strategic partnership between the two countries." "We discussed the US-India strategic relationship, including expanding trade and commercial ties to foster growth and prosperity for both countries," Landau said. The Indian Embassy said in a statement that during the meeting with Landau, the delegation briefed him on the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, discussed India's subsequent Operation Sindoor, and put forth India's firm resolve to counter cross-border terrorism in all its forms. On the last day of the delegation's scheduled meetings, the delegation oaid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue opposite the Indian Embassy here. "It is striking how many world capitals are adorned with statues or busts of the Mahatma, the 20th century's greatest apostle of peace, nonviolence, and human freedom," Tharoor posted on X afterwards. The team, which had arrived from India in New York on May 24, had travelled to Guyana, Panama, Colombia and Brazil before arriving in Washington for the last leg of the tour. The other members of the delegation were Sarfaraz Ahmad (JMM), Ganti Harish Madhur Balayogi (TDP), Shashank Mani Tripathi (BJP), Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), Tejasvi Surya (BJP) and India's former Ambassador to the US Taranjit Sandhu. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam terror attack, with India carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. The on-ground hostilities from Indian and Pakistan sides that lasted for four days ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10. PTI
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
FBI chief's 'hit a cop, you're going to jail' warning sparks online outrage
FBI Director Kash Patel faced backlash after issuing a stern warning to anti-ICE protesters in Los Angeles, cautioning that anyone assaulting cops or taking the law into their own hands would face jail time. "Hit a cop, you're going to jail. Doesn't matter where you came from, how you got here, or what movement speaks to you. If the local police force won't back our men and women on the thin blue line, we @FBI will," Patel had posted on X, warning the demonstrators after a wave of surprise immigration raids in Los Angeles on Friday triggered citywide protests, tense standoffs with police, and dozens of Social media users took a quick note of Kash Patel's warning to the protesters and hit back at the FBI chief, calling him out for the federal agency's different stance taken on the January 6 rioters, with one user saying, "unless you're doing it for Trump". Another user accused him of "overrunning an election".Most of the January 6 rioters were relieved of charges by US President Donald Trump after he took office for the second time this issued "full, complete and unconditional" pardons for around 1,500 people involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. The group included individuals convicted of violent acts. The move saw Trump fulfilling a campaign promise within the first few hours of his second online tirade against Kash Patel's stern warning continued as another user wrote, "But if you do it wearing Trump merch while rioting at the US Capitol, you'll get a pardon, right, Kash?" More people joined Patel's online bashing, with some of them sharing pictures and videos of rioters clashing with police on January 6, Kash Patel distanced himself from the pardoning of Capitol riots accused during his confirmation hearing as FBI director, saying, "I have always rejected any violence against law enforcement, and I have included in that group specifically addressed any violence against law enforcement on January 6"."I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement," he from Patel, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also invited online ire for writing that the anti-ICE protests are "designed to prevent the removal of Criminal Illegal Aliens from US soil". Hegseth added, "a dangerous invasion facilitated by criminal cartels (aka Foreign Terrorist Organizations) and a huge NATIONAL SECURITY RISK".The Los Angeles raids were part of a broader push by the Trump administration to ramp up deportation efforts nationwide. Trump has vowed record-level removals of undocumented migrants, and White House aide Stephen Miller has reportedly urged ICE to make at least 3,000 arrests Watch
