WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tucker Carlson says Donald Trump never seriously focused on Canada despite months of rhetoric about making the country the 51st state, arguing that Washington has neglected one of its most important strategic relationships while becoming consumed by conflicts elsewhere.

In a Canadian exclusive interview with Can’t Be Censored, Carlson offered a rare assessment of how Canada was viewed inside Trump's orbit, dismissing the idea that the former president's comments about annexation reflected a coherent policy toward America's northern neighbour.

“I don't think he's thought seriously about Canada,” Carlson said.

Instead, Carlson suggested Trump's approach was driven largely by his personal feelings toward former prime minister Justin Trudeau.

“I think he didn't like Justin Trudeau for personal reasons,” Carlson said. “I think he was trying to humiliate Trudeau.”

The comments provide a different interpretation of one of the most contentious issues in recent Canada-U.S. relations. While Trump's remarks about Canada becoming the 51st state generated outrage north of the border and speculation about Washington's intentions, Carlson argued they reflected a broader failure to develop a serious strategy toward a country he described as America's most important ally.

“Canada is our closest ally in the world,” Carlson said. “It's the most important ally in the world.”

Carlson, who has long taken an interest in Canadian politics and media, argued that successive American administrations have underestimated Canada's importance despite the countries sharing the world's longest international border and one of the largest trading relationships on the planet.

His concern, however, extends beyond rhetoric.

Carlson pointed to Canada's growing efforts to diversify its economic and diplomatic relationships beyond the United States, particularly with China, as a challenge Washington has failed to adequately address.

“The move to China has been going on a long time,” he said. “That is a very serious challenge to the United States.”

Rather than responding to those shifts, Carlson said American policymakers have become distracted by overseas conflicts while paying insufficient attention to developments within North America.

“No one in the administration seems interested in even thinking through how you might fix that,” Carlson said. “Instead, it's like trolling Canada.”

Throughout the interview, Carlson repeatedly returned to the idea that Canada's significance is routinely overlooked in Washington despite its direct impact on American economic and national security interests.

“What happens in Canada matters a lot more than what happens in Israel or Lebanon or Iraq or Iran or Syria,” he said.

“There's just no bandwidth for things that really matter from my perspective like Canada.”

The remarks come as Canada continues efforts to expand trade relationships and reduce economic dependence on the United States, a conversation that has intensified amid political tensions, trade disputes and questions about the future direction of the Canada-U.S. partnership.

Carlson argued that while American leaders remain focused on events overseas, they are failing to appreciate changes taking place in a country he believes should command far greater attention.

“Canada matters a lot more, infinitely more to the United States than Iran,” he said.

For Carlson, the larger issue is not Trump's rhetoric but what he sees as Washington's inability to recognize the strategic importance of a neighbour that remains deeply tied to the United States economically, politically and culturally.

“I care about Canada and Mexico first and second,” he said