Albertan separatists court Trump while he feuds with Canada
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Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Trump attend the draw for the 2026 FIFA Football World Cup in Washington, DC, on Dec. 5, 2025. Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images
The Trump administration reportedly hosted an Albertan separatist group seeking independence from Canada, which has repeatedly rebuffed President Trump's desire it become the 51st state.
The big picture: Stoking the separatist movement will only inflame tensions between Washington and Ottawa after Trump ignited a rollercoaster trade war with one of America's closest allies.
Context: The Financial Times reported that separatist leaders met U.S. officials in Washington three times since last spring, citing people familiar with the talks.
- A White House official told Axios that officials "meet with a number of civil society groups" and that no "support or commitments were conveyed."
- A senior State Department official also emphasized that "no commitments were made."
Gabriel Brunet, a spokesperson for Canadian internal trade minister Dominic LeBlanc, said in a statement provided to Axios that "Alberta is an essential partner in our federation – and Canada's new government is engaged in renewing the Canada-Alberta relationship based on common objectives and respect for each other's jurisdictions."
Worth noting: Statehood is not the separatists' goal, despite some factions signaling support, CBC reports.
- Mitch Sylvestre, who is leading a referendum petition, recently told CBC the movement wants "sovereignty independent of the U.S."
- But MAGA world has taken notice.
Read on for what to know about the movement:
Bessent raises brows
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent nodded at the referendum in an interview with podcaster Jack Posobiec last week, describing Alberta as a "natural" U.S. partner.
- "They have great resources. The Albertans are very independent people," he said. "Rumor that they may have a referendum on whether they want to stay in Canada or not."
- Bessent claimed Canada would not let Alberta build a pipeline to the Pacific. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney have discussed the project and reached a memorandum of understanding, but indigenous communities have raised concerns.
"People want sovereignty," Bessent said. "They want what the U.S. has got."
Zoom out: Other MAGA allies like Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) have cheered on the independence movement.
What do the separatists want?
The Alberta Prosperity Project says movement representatives took "strategic trips" to D.C. to discuss independence.
- "The objectives are clear: to educate U.S. counterparts on Alberta's vast resources and how independence would eliminate federal barriers hindering market access," the group says.
- The mineral-rich province is the largest producer of crude oil in Canada, per the federal energy regulator.
Catch up quick: Separatist organizers are collecting signatures for a referendum proposing Alberta independence, per local reports.
- A recent Ipsos survey found that nearly three in ten Albertans would vote to begin the separation process.
- But when presented with the economic and social costs of independence, that commitment slipped.
How the gloves came off
The U.S.-Canada relationship has splintered significantly.
- After a relatively stable stretch, Trump and Carney traded barbs at Davos, reigniting trade threats from Washington.
- Trump also pulled Canada's invitation to join his "Board of Peace" for Gaza.
Go deeper: Trump escalates Carney feud after Davos dust-up
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a Canadian government statement.
