Is Trump ready for a 49-state U.S. if Minnesota becomes Canada's 11th province?
Former governor Jesse Ventura said its time to 'petition' to leave the United States and become a Canadian province
Author of the article:Joe Warmington
Published Jan 29, 2026 • Last updated 11 hours ago • 2 minute read
Don’t look now but Minnesota’s former governor Jesse Ventura says it’s time to “petition” to make the northern state Canada’s 11th province!
“Instead of Canada becoming the 51st state of America and lose their health care,” the legendary once Reform Party governor said on The SpinSisters podcast, “I’d like to see Minnesota, all of us, become Canadians.”
Is Canada ready to finally have its own NFL team? If Jesse “The Body” Ventura gets his way, the Minnesota Vikings would become a Canadian team!
“Make this part of Canada, because it’s obvious Donald Trump don’t want us,” Minnesota’s 38th governor added.
A Ventura backhand chop
Talk about a show-stopping piledriver like the ones the retired legendary wrestler was once famous for. At a time when Minnesota’s current Gov. Tim Walz and Congress members like Rep. Ilhan Omar are in a heated verbal war with the Trump administration over two citizens (Renee Good and Alex Pretti) being shot to death in confrontations with federal ICE Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, Ventura is delivering a backhand chop of his own.
Bad times in Minnesota. It’s like a civil war there.
Saying “let me throw this out on your show and make some headlines,” Ventura said, “How about since Trump dislikes Minnesota so bad and we’re so out of control, let’s join Canada.”
He knew he was delivering one of his signature punches. But the Minnesota governor from 1999 to 2003 wasn’t finished yet.
Canadian ice, not American ICE
Ventura, who we have reached out to for an interview, makes it clear he prefers Canadian ice over American ICE.
“I think we should petition to get out of the United States,” said Ventura. “If they don’t want us, I am sure Canada would be happy to take us.”
So, what do you think, Canada? More lakes for fishing? More snowmobiling trails?
If it happened, it would also mean a second Major League Baseball team in the Minnesota Twins and a second NBA team with the Timberwolves — which would mean small forward from Scarborough Leonard Miller wouldn’t need a green card to play there.
And, of course, there would be an eighth Canadian NHL club called the Minnesota Wild, which should be quite a nice rivalry with neighbouring province Manitoba’s Winnipeg Jets.
Time will tell what Trump — who has repeatedly talked about Canada becoming America’s 51st state and even recently posted a picture with the American flag over all of North America — thinks of Ventura’s suggestion coming in the year the United States is celebrating its 250th anniversary.
But the former governor puts the blame on the 45th and 47th president.
“It’s obvious he’s ready to fracture the whole country for his own folly,” said Ventura of Trump.
Minnesota becoming a Canadian province, leaving America with 49 states, would certainly be a body slam to Trump’s vision.
jwarmington@postmedia.com
Minnesota’s former governor Jesse Ventura says it’s time to petition to make the northern state Canada’s 11th province. Read more.
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