By Jenny Gross New York Times
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More than 230,000 Canadians have signed a petition to revoke Elon Musk’s Canadian citizenship and passport over what the petition calls his attempts to engage in practices that go against Canada’s national interest.

The petition said Musk had “become a member of a foreign government that is attempting to erase Canadian sovereignty.” It was an apparent reference to Musk’s work for President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly said he wants to annex Canada and make it “our 51st state.”

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In response to a social media post about the petition Monday, Musk wrote on his social platform X that “Canada is not a real country.”

Trump has charged Musk, the billionaire tech executive, with carrying out a drastic overhaul of the federal bureaucracy. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is not a Cabinet-level department, and a judge in Washington on Monday said the way the Trump administration had set it up may be unconstitutional.

It is unclear whether Musk has had any involvement in Trump’s approach to relations with Canada, though his posts on social media have repeatedly made jabs at the country’s sovereignty. Musk, who was born in South Africa, holds Canadian citizenship through his mother, according to Walter Isaacson’s biography of him. Musk also holds U.S. citizenship, which he received in 2002, according to the biography.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada has said that he does not see Trump’s statements as having been made in jest and that he takes the threat seriously. Trump has also moved forward with plans to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States.

The petition, addressed to Trudeau and sponsored by Charlie Angus, a member of Parliament for the left-of-center New Democratic Party, was reported by The Canadian Press on Saturday.

“He has used his wealth and power to influence our elections,” said the petition, which was initiated by author Qualia Reed.

Musk recently endorsed Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, the main opposition party, as Canada’s next leader. Musk has needled Trudeau, calling him “a governor.”

Petitions must receive at least 500 valid signatures to be presented in the House of Commons and potentially receive a response from the government, according to parliamentary procedure. According to the Canadian government, citizenship can be revoked if a citizen commits fraud, misrepresents themselves or knowingly hides information on an immigrant or citizenship application.

Olivier Duhaime, a House of Commons spokesperson, said he could not comment on individual petitions.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

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