President Donald Trump said Thursday that Canada would only benefit the U.S. as a state and that he will not back down on the tariffs he has imposed or are set to take place in April.

Trump spoke to reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte that aired on Newsmax and the Newsmax2 online streaming platform. The meeting came days after Trump called on European allies to contribute more to the 32-nation military alliance’s defense fund.

The president’s 25% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports took effect Wednesday, and tariffs on automobile imports are expected to kick in on April 2 after being delayed for a month. Trump is using tariffs to pressure Canada, as well as Mexico, to crack down on illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking.

Read more at Newsmax© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.