JD Vance Says Calling Canada A State Was Just A ‘Freudian Slip’

JD Vance made an admitted Freudian slip on Monday that probably won’t ease the minds of Canadian citizens.

The vice president made the gaffe during a rally in Maine, where he was discussing the escalating trade war with Canada and argued that the current policy hurts the Pine Tree State.

“I think that we need to send a message loud and clear to the prime minister of Canada: Stop taking advantage of the people of Maine,” Vance said. “Stop taking advantage of America. It’s over. We expect fairness in our trade policy.”

Trade negotiations between the neighboring nations fell apart on Friday, and the US responded by imposing 50% tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian goods, while Canada said it would retaliate with its own penalties starting Sept. 8.

Although Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accused the US of not acting fairly or respecting Canada’s sovereignty, Vance claimed Canada is the one who is acting unfairly.

But his attack wasn’t as smooth as he probably hoped, given that it began with a major unintentional error.

“We have to remember Canada is a state,” Vance said, seeming to reference Trump’s long-announced troll, er, goal of turning the country into America’s 51st state.

But Vance quickly corrected himself. “Sorry, Freudian slip,” and stressed, “That was actually an accident.”

Vance then accused Canada of underinvesting in its military, claiming it “quite literally would get invaded by a foreign country were it not for the umbrella of protection provided by the United States of America.”

He then claimed Canada was applying “ridiculous tariffs and other non-tariff duties on Maine products coming into Canada,” and asked rhetorically, “and they don’t expect Maine or anybody else to fight back?”

Vance told the crowd, “We’re actually going to fight back against unfair trade practices, whether it’s coming from China or Canada.”