CANADA REJECTS 51ST STATE STATUS, MOVES TOWARD BECOMING 28TH MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 2, 2025, 12:00

Canada Rejects 51st State Status, Moves Toward Becoming 28th Member of the European Union

In a historic geopolitical shift, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have formally invited Canada to join the European Union (EU) as its 28th member state. The proposal comes as a direct countermeasure to U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for Canada to become the 51st state of the United States following heightened trade tensions and tariff escalations.

From Washington’s Grasp to Brussels’ Embrace

On February 1, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Canadian exports, including energy products, aluminum, and key manufacturing goods, while simultaneously offering Canada a path to U.S. statehood. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau swiftly rejected both the tariffs and the notion of Canada becoming America’s 51st state, instead announcing retaliatory tariffs of 25% on U.S. goods worth C$155 billion and signaling a closer alliance with Europe.

Von der Leyen, Macron, and Scholz seized the moment to extend an unprecedented invitation for Canada to join the EU, emphasizing shared democratic values, economic strength, and a long-term strategic alliance. As part of this historic offer, European leaders have drafted an initial version of a new EU flag, featuring Canada’s iconic maple leaf alongside Europe’s golden stars, symbolizing a future of transatlantic unity.

Flag Design: Our Golden Era

The flag, titled The Golden Leaf, has been created by Lanfranco Aceti, a socio-political artist. This is part of a project with international flags titled Our Golden Era.

A Strategic and Economic Turning Point

If Canada formally begins accession talks, this will mark the largest expansion of the EU since 2013 and a monumental shift in Western alliances. Key implications include:

• Trade & Economy: Canada’s C$2.5 trillion economy would integrate into the EU’s €16 trillion market, reshaping global trade dynamics.
• Security & Diplomacy: Canada would align with the EU on foreign policy, defense, and climate strategies, distancing itself from Washington’s “America First” agenda.
• Cultural & Political Transformation: Canada’s legal, immigration, and governance systems would undergo adaptation to EU frameworks, while European influence in North America would expand significantly.

Next Steps: A New Transatlantic Future?

Canadian and European officials will commence discussions in Brussels, exploring the legal and institutional pathways for integration. With growing discontent over Trump’s economic policies and an increasingly fractured global order, this move positions Canada as a pivotal force in reshaping the Western alliance—not as Washington’s subordinate, but as Brussels’ newest partner.

Let’s discuss. Should Canada look to Europe rather than the U.S. for its future?

The Artist Who Inspired a Political Movement

This radical realignment was inspired by political artist Lanfranco Aceti, whose work has consistently challenged Western power structures and questioned the limits of institutional politics. Aceti issued a sharp critique of both the EU and U.S. leadership, stating:

“The EU has always been a rather myopic and idiotic circus. It is time to move inept politicians aside and take things to a different plane—one of long-term intelligent action in the interest of the people.”

His artistic interventions, which blur the boundaries between political satire and diplomatic provocation, have been instrumental in reshaping global conversations on power, sovereignty, and artistic agency.

About Lanfranco Aceti

Lanfranco Aceti is a renowned political artist whose provocative interventions have challenged institutional authority, neoliberal governance, and Western power structures. His work, known for its ability to blur the lines between satire and political activism, has influenced global discourse on sovereignty, democracy, and the role of art in statecraft.