U.S. President Donald Trump says Canada will have to pay $61 billion to join his proposed Golden Dome missile defense system “if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation.”
In a post on TruthSocial, Trump claimed Canada “very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System” and would gain free access only if it becomes a U.S. state.
“ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State,” Trump added. “They are considering the offer!”
Timing follows King Charles’ speech in Canada
Trump’s remarks came just hours after King Charles III addressed Canada’s parliament with a rare royal speech, stressing Canada’s sovereignty in “dangerous and uncertain” times. His comments also arrive amid mounting pressure from Trump for Canada to align more closely with the U.S.
In response to the King’s speech, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told CBC he hopes Canada will join ReArm Europe by July 1, to reduce the country’s dependence on the U.S. for weapons.
No official response from Canada—yet
Canada has not yet formally responded to Trump’s latest statement. However, Carney has previously acknowledged that Canada has held “high-level” talks with the U.S. about the missile defense project.
Trump seeks $25B through ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’
Trump estimates the Golden Dome will cost around $175 billion, with a projected completion date by the end of his current term in 2029. However, defense experts have cast doubt on both the timeline and budget.
He is currently seeking $25 billion in initial funding through the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which recently passed the Republican-led House and awaits a vote in the Senate.
The sweeping bill proposes increased military and border security spending, while slashing social programs such as Medicaid and food assistance for low-income Americans.
Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, but far larger
The Golden Dome is said to be modeled after Israel’s Iron Dome, which receives $500 million annually in U.S. support. However, defense analysts question how Trump plans to scale up the system to defend the entire U.S.—a vastly larger landmass than Israel, which is roughly the size of New Jersey.
The Iron Dome primarily targets short-range missiles within a range of around 1,000km (620 miles), while the primary threats to the U.S. are believed to be long-range ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
China, Russia, and North Korea condemn Trump’s space plan
Trump’s announcement also follows his recent unveiling of a broader missile defense vision that includes placing weapons in space—a proposal that has drawn immediate backlash from global powers.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the plan, with spokeswoman Mao Ning stating it “heightens the risk of space becoming a battlefield, fuels an arms race, and undermines international security.”
“The United States puts its own interests first and is obsessed with seeking its own absolute security, which violates the principle that no country’s security should come at the expense of others,” Mao said.
North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs similarly warned that the U.S. is “hell-bent on the moves to militarise outer space.”
Russia warns of destabilization, first-strike capability
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the Golden Dome initiative threatens “strategic stability” by enabling a global missile defense and pre-launch strike capability.
According to TASS, Zakharova said the system’s development would include infrastructure “that ensures their use,” and represents a “highly dangerous doctrinal course toward delivering so-called preventive, but essentially first strikes.”
She warned that it could turn space into a “weaponized environment” and an “arena of armed confrontation.”
