Karoline Leavitt Predicts U.S. Hockey Team Will Beat ‘Soon-To-Be 51st State’ Canada

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt turned a question about Thursday night’s hockey game between the U.S. and Canada into an opportunity to revisit Donald Trump’s dream about our sovereign neighbor becoming a U.S. state.

Trump spoke to the U.S. men’s hockey team on Thursday by phone and wished the players good luck in the game, which starts at 8 p.m. Eastern in Boston.

Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy later asked Leavitt if the president had placed a bet on the game, and the press secretary used the occasion to troll our neighbor to the north.

The White House looks “forward to the United States beating our soon-to-be 51st state, Canada,” Leavitt said after telling Doocy that Trump probably watches hockey games for both the goals and the fights.

You can watch the complete exchange below.

As part of his tariff threats against other nations, Trump has suggested Canada become a U.S. state. It sounds ridiculous, and some have interpreted his remarks as a joke, but Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently said over a hot mic thatTrump is serious.

So far, Canadians have expressed no interest in becoming part of the USA and have protested in part bybooing America’s national anthem at hockey games.

Many social media users are chiming in to say that the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state leaves them cold.

I just walked by three guys at the train station and they were on their way to Boston for the hockey game between 🇨🇦 & 🇺🇸 tonight. two of the three rednecks where wearing “Canada 51st state” sweaters and I called them fuckheads as I was on my way. I hope Canada humbles them and every MAGAt tonight.

Rosario YD [#InsertNewTagHere] (@yeendog.bsky.social)2025-02-20T20:55:50.879Z

The USA are playing Canada at hockey tonight with the White House press briefings now officially referring to Canada as “our soon to be 51st state” & yet there are STILL people wondering why this game will feel like sport as a war.I bet people wondered the same about Germany v Czechia in 1937.

Paul Wheeler (@paulwradio.bsky.social)2025-02-20T20:08:21.059Z

Canada will never be the 51st state. I’ve never been so invested in a hockey game in my life. I love my American friends and coworkers but anything that will contribute to ruining Donald Trump’s day, I’m in favour of.

Mac Murray (@macmurray.bsky.social)2025-02-20T20:03:07.314Z

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