As Canada heads to polls, Donald Trump expresses his desire to make it 51st US state

The US president has expressed his desire for Canada to become part of the United States, stating that it would be "the cherished 51st state."

He said this would bring numerous benefits, including "zero tariffs" and "free access with no border."

In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "No more artificially drawn line from many years ago. Look how beautiful this land mass would be... ALL POSITIVES WITH NO NEGATIVES. IT WAS MEANT TO BE!"

He also argued that the US can no longer subsidise Canada with hundreds of billions of dollars a year unless it becomes a state.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre blasted Trump's intrusion in the election and posted: "President Trump, stay out of our election. Canada will always be proud, sovereign and independent and we will NEVER be the 51st state."

The Liberal Party, led by PM Mark Carney, and the Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, are the main contenders in the election.

Carney, who is a former central bank governor, has claimed that his global financial experience will help him to deal with Trump's tariffs. He has promised to work on internal trade and expand Canada's economic opportunities abroad to reduce reliance on the US.

Meanwhile, Poilievre's campaign focused on domestic issues such as crime, housing shortages, and living costs.

He has argued that Carney would continue "the lost Liberal decade" and that only a Conservative government can address the issues that matter most to Canadians.

While Poilievre has critiqued Trump, he has also emphasised that Canada's vulnerability to US aggression is a result of poor Liberal governance.