President Trump said Sunday he is serious about making Canada the nation’s 51st state.

In a pre-Super Bowl interview on Fox, Mr. Trump said that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was telling the truth when he told business officials that his talk of making Canada the 51st state is “a real thing.”

“Yes, it is,” Mr. Trump said. “I think Canada would be much better off being a 51st state because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada and I am not going to let that happen.”

Mr. Trump has maintained that Canada is ripping off the United States on trade, arguing Americans are “subsidizing” their neighbor to the north.

“Now, if they are 51st state, I don’t mind doing it,” he said.

According to local news reports, Mr. Trudeau delivered his comments behind closed doors to business and labor leaders, but a loudspeaker mistakenly carried them.

“Mr. Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country and it is a real thing. In my conversations with him on…,” Mr. Trudeau said of making Canada a U.S. state before the microphone cut out, according to reports.

“They’re very aware of our resources, of what we have and they very much want to be able to benefit from those,” Mr. Trudeau reportedly said.

• This article was based in part on wire service reports.

• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.