Donald Trump told Republican lawmakers how he wants to ‘Americanize’ Canada during a private closed-door meeting Wednesday night. 

The president-elect arrived on Capitol Hill this evening with wife Melania for meetings with Republicans and to pay their respects to Jimmy Carter.

The 78-year-old said it was ‘great’ to be back in Congress before heading into the Capitol Rotunda and for talks with the GOP.

During the session, the president-elect talked about his desire to make Canada the 51st state. 

‘We talked a lot about Canada becoming the fifty first state,’ Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., told reporters after exiting the meeting. 

Recently, Trump has been expressing a stronger desire for Canada to become a part of the United States. He has raised concerns about Canada’s heavy dependence on the U.S.

The Republicans also discussed plans on how to best carry out the incoming president’s legislative priorities. 

He also said he’s ‘looking’ at doing one bill versus two bills in a massive reconciliation package to fund the government and advance several of his main initiatives.

President-elect Donald Trump speaks to the press after paying his respects in front of the flag-draped casket at the Lying in State Ceremony for former President Jimmy Carter at the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC on January 8

The president-elect arrived on Capitol Hill on Wednesday with wife Melania for meetings with Republicans

The Trumps paying respect to late President Jimmy Carter

‘lt was a really good meeting. Very strong. And, we’ll get something done,’ he affirmed on his way out of the Capitol.

‘One bill, two bills. Doesn’t matter to me. They’re going to work that out. But the end result is going to be the same.’

His vision for a ‘big beautiful bill’ includes combining border security measures and extending the tax cuts he introduced back in 2017. 

Trump is in Washington D.C. to pay attend a memorial service to the mourn the late President Carter at his funeral on Thursday. 

‘I came here for the funeral tomorrow,’ he told reporters after meeting with Senate Republicans. 

‘I went over with the first lady and met the Carter family. They were lovely. They were really, very sad,’ he said of his visit. 

‘But also, there was celebrating cause he was a very fine man. I know him a little bit, but I knew him only as a fine man.’

The president also took aim at California Governor Gavin Newsom, criticizing his handling of multiple fires that are currently raging around Los Angeles.  

Donald Trump arrived on Capitol Hill on Wednesday with wife Melania for meetings with Republicans and to pay their respects to Jimmy Carter

‘I’ve been trying to get Newsom to let water to come for years-he dumps it into the Pacific to save a fish-when he can save the state of California,’ he said. 

He went on to slam the Democrat for prioritizing a fish called smelt over the lives of Californians, saying Newsom’s ecological projects did not put California residents first. 

In just 12 days, he will take the oath of office on the steps outside the building and be sworn in, capping off a historic political comeback.

The incoming first couple walked into the Capitol Rotunda and stood by his casket for a moment of silence.

Melania, dressed in black, held her husband’s hand as they walked through Congress in front of watching reporters and photographers.

Their appearance came just hours after Capitol Police arrested a man for trying to enter the complex with a machete and three knives. 

The incoming first couple walked into the Capitol Rotunda and stood by his casket for a moment of silence

Trump is in Washington D.C. to pay respects to the mourn the late President Carter at his funeral on Thursday

The 78-year-old president-elect said it was ‘great’ to be back in Congress before heading into the Capitol Rotunda and for talks with the GOP

Melania, dressed in black, held her husband’s hand as they walked through Congress in front of watching reporters and photographers

Carter has been lying in state in Washington D.C. since Tuesday afternoon ahead of his state funeral.

Dignitaries from around the world, including the living former presidents, are expected to attend.

President Joe Biden, 82, in one of his last acts in office will delivery a eulogy before his trip to Rome.