Thank you for your response, @alapok. I am sympathetic to parts of it, e.g. the continual reference Trump makes to Canada becoming our 51st state. What games are being played behind the scenes with this, I have no idea. Nor do I suspect, do the vast majority of people. He clearly had zero regard for Trudeau.
FWIW, I am not in favor of Canada becoming our 51st state.
For adding a little humor (maybe?) and a bit of color into this conversation with you, I used to manage a team of Canadians. On my first official business trip in that role, I was introduced to this huge guy out in Alberta whose first question was to ask where I was from. Having been told by my new direct reports how sensitive the topic of Canada NOT being America was.
"Oh great! (I thought to myself ...) That didn't take long."
I proceeded to answer honestly about living not that far south in the Pacific Northwest. Leading to this huge man standing up, reaching across the table, and dwarfing my hand in his with a handshake. Telling me (pretty close all these years later ...):
"Oh good! I thought you were gonna be another one of the SOBs from Ontario! At least, from your accent, I knew you were not from Quebec!"
"When they divided our countries they got it all wrong. I think they should have divided us more north and south rather than east and west. Maybe along the Mississippi River or something."
We all had a good laugh and a nice dinner afterwards.
I will never forget that experience.