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Gay Treasury secretary could start international incident with bizarre Canadian annexation statement
Out Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is facing criticism for his comments in favor of Albertan separatism, supporting the idea that the Canadian province of Alberta should declare its independence from Canada and, in Bessent’s opinion, join the United States. His comments come as the administration increasingly threatens America’s neighbors to the north with invasion and annexation.
“I think we should let them come down into the U.S.,” Bessent said of Alberta yesterday while being interviewed by anti-LGBTQ+ and antisemitic podcaster and Pizzagate promoter Jack Posobiec.
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“Alberta is a natural partner for the U.S.,” Bessent said. “They have great resources. The Albertans are very independent people.”
“Rumor that they may have a referendum on whether they want to stay in Canada or not,” he said, smiling. Posobeic pushed him on that, and he responded: “People are saying, people are talking, people want sovereignty, they want what the U.S. has got.”
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Bessent pushes Albertan independence from Canada: "Albertans are very independent people. There's a rumor they may have a referendum on whether they want to stay in Canada or not. People are talking. People want sovereignty. They want what the US has got."
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-01-23T14:40:26.777Z
The president has been calling for Canada to become the “51st state” since the 2024 elections. These statements have only increased antagonism with Canada and led to a massive boycott of American products and travel.
Alberta is a conservative province in Canada, with a majority of its provincial Legislative Assembly belonging to the United Conservative Party.
There is currently a petition movement in Alberta to hold a referendum on independence, and some of the organizers of that referendum have claimed ties to the U.S. presidential administration, according to Oakville News.
The referendum would just be about independence, not joining the U.S.
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