WASHINGTON 

President Donald Trump sought to immediately end discussion about his widely-panned proposal to make Canada the 51st US state Thursday as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was answering a question from a reporter.

"You mentioned Canada. I think you're trying to find a divide between us that doesn't exist. We're the closest of nations, and we had very good discussions today, but we didn't..." Starmer said.

It is unclear if the UK prime minister then said "address Canada" or "discuss Canada" because Trump then addresses a reporter in the crowd, pointing at him to sit down as he said, "That's enough. Thank you."

The White House sought to emphasize that the president was addressing the reporter, not Starmer.

"Fake News. President Trump cut off the reporter trying to goad the two leaders into division. Stop lying," it said, in response to an X post from a Canadian news outlet.

Trump has repeatedly reiterated his desire to absorb Canada into the US as its 51st state, and has made threats about imposing tariffs on Canadian products. Canada is a member of the UK's commonwealth that swears allegiance to the UK monarch.