TLDR: A petition to revoke the Canadian citizenship of Elon Musk has garnered over 250,000 signatures, reflecting public outrage over his ties to President Donald Trump and recent dismissive remarks about Canada.
Elon Musk, the tech mogul known for his ventures into space and electric cars, has ignited a firestorm across Canada. A petition circulating in Canada seeks to strip Musk of his Canadian citizenship, amassing over 250,000 signatures to date. The catalyst? Musk’s close association with President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies, which many Canadians view as a direct threat to their nation’s sovereignty.
Born in South Africa, Musk obtained Canadian citizenship through his mother, Maye Musk, who hails from Saskatchewan. Despite his Canadian ties, Musk has become a prominent figure in Trump’s inner circle, playing a pivotal role in implementing significant cuts to federal agencies and influencing policy decisions across the U.S. government. This alliance has not sat well with many Canadians, especially given Trump’s recent assertions about potentially annexing Canada as the 51st state—a notion the White House insists should be taken seriously.
The electronic petition accuses Musk of “engaging in activities that go against the national interest of Canada” by aligning with a foreign government intent on undermining Canadian sovereignty. In a move that poured gasoline on the fire, Musk responded on his faltering social media platform X with a curt dismissal: “Canada is not a real country.”
Charlie Angus, a Member of Parliament from the New Democratic Party and the petition’s sponsor, expressed astonishment at the public’s response. “I’ve never seen anything move like this in the boring world of parliamentary e-petitions,” Angus told Politico. “What this tells me is that people are really angry, and people are coming together to defend their democracy … and saying this man should have no claim on calling himself Canadian in any capacity for his profoundly anti-democratic views.”
While the petition is largely symbolic—Canadian law permits revocation of citizenship primarily in cases of fraud or misrepresentation—it serves as a barometer of the current geopolitical climate. Tensions between the U.S. and Canada have escalated, leading to boycotts of American products and public protests during sporting events.
Musk’s flippant remark dismissing Canada as “not a real country” has only intensified the backlash, further tarnishing his once-celebrated ties to the Great White North. If he had simply ignored the petition or responded with a more measured tone, I probably wouldn’t be writing this at all. But if he has so little respect for our sovereignty, perhaps it’s time we seriously consider revoking his citizenship.
