White House on hockey game: We look forward to US beating soon-to-be 51st state

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday jabbed at Canada as “our soon-to-be 51st state” ahead of a hockey game between the U.S. men’s national team and its neighbors to the north. 

President Trump “looks forward to watching the game tonight,” Leavitt told reporters as the U.S. team readies to go up against Canada in Thursday's 4 Nations Face-Off championship game. “And we look forward to the United States beating our soon-to-be 51st state, Canada.” 

Leavitt’s jab follows Trump’s repeat proposals of a merger with Canada, despite stark opposition to the idea from Canadian officials. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said "there isn't a snowball's chance in hell" that Canada would join its neighbor.

“I’ll be calling our GREAT American Hockey Team this morning to spur them on towards victory tonight against Canada, which with FAR LOWER TAXES AND MUCH STRONGER SECURITY, will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished, and very important, Fifty First State,” Trump said on Truth Social ahead of a call with players on Thursday. 

The U.S. team invited Trump to watch the game in Boston, but he declined due to obligations in Washington. 

“But we will all be watching, and if Governor Trudeau would like to join us, he would be most welcome,” Trump said, jabbing Trudeau with the “governor” title.

Trump has also threatened Canada, one of the U.S.’s top trading partners, with a 25 percent tariff. The president and Trudeau, who recently announced his plans to resign, agreed at the start of February to pause implementing the tariffs for at least a month.