A new royal biography claims U.S. President Donald Trump softened earlier talk about annexing Canada after being reminded that the country continues to recognize King Charles III as its head of state. The account appears in an upcoming book by British royal biographer Robert Hardman and was first reported by Global News.
According to Hardman’s recollection of a December 2025 conversation at Mar a Lago, Trump raised questions about whether Canada still formally recognized the monarch. After learning that the King remains Canada’s constitutional head of state, Trump reportedly acknowledged that attempting to absorb Canada into the United States would be difficult given the country’s long history and political identity.
Hardman wrote that Trump had previously made remarks about Canada’s leadership and geography, including comments about the border between the two countries. However, he also suggested the U.S. president ultimately recognized that changing Canada’s status would be unrealistic within the timeframe of his presidency and would conflict with Canada’s established sovereignty.
The biography also highlights Trump’s positive comments about members of the Royal Family, including both the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III. The excerpt references the King’s historic throne speech in Canada’s Parliament last year, delivered during a period when Trump’s statements about making Canada the 51st U.S. state had drawn significant attention across the country.
Despite the reduced frequency of annexation rhetoric since last year, concerns about the possibility of U.S. pressure on Canada remain present among some Canadians. Polling cited in the report suggests that while many people believe a military takeover is unlikely, a similar proportion say they remain uneasy about the prospect. The developments come as Canada and the United States continue negotiations ahead of a scheduled review of the Canada United States Mexico Agreement later this year.
