Bryan Adams drops new single '51st State' aimed at Trump's annexation threats

Canadian rock icon Bryan Adams has released a new single titled "51st State" aimed squarely at U.S. President Donald Trump over his threats to annex Canada.

Adams dropped the song on Canada Day, July 1, across streaming platforms and social media. The lyrics respond directly to Trump's proposal to make Canada the U.S.'s 51st state.

"Let me give it to you straight / When you're talking 'bout my home / You better show some respect / 'Cause we up here take care of our own," Adams sings. "So let me give you some advice, mister / You might have too much on your plate / Go and load us up with tariffs / But we'll never be the 51st state."

The song also invokes Canada-U.S. alliance history. "Maybe you just don't care, but we always stood beside you," he sings. Adams addresses the cost-of-living crisis, stating that he never thought he'd see the day "where everything could get harder / for the working man."

Reactions have been mixed. One Reddit commenter called it "not great," but others appreciated the patriotic sentiment. "I could not say I'm a fan of his music, but I do appreciate how he is patriotic to a country [that] actually deserves it," one wrote. Another stated, "I knew I liked him for a reason. Good for him!" An American commenter from Michigan responded, "I'm an embarrassed American, and I find it absolutely tragic that this song was even written. I love it, and I pray that we can rebuild trust and unity between our countries."

Adams is set to kick off his "Roll with the Punches" tour on July 24, with stops across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. He is not the only Canadian celebrity voicing concerns about Trump; actor Simu Liu has criticized Trump's tax plan, and Mike Myers wore a "Canada is not for sale" T-shirt on Saturday Night Live.