Canadian Fans Boo US Anthem Amid Trump Tariff Tensions

TORONTO, Canada — Canadian sports fans have taken to booing the U.S. national anthem at professional games in a striking display of discontent following President Donald Trump‘s announcement of steep tariffs on Canadian imports. The protests began Saturday night during a National Hockey League (NHL) game in Ottawa and continued Sunday during a National Basketball Association (NBA) game in Toronto.

The 25% tariffs on Canadian imports, set to take effect Tuesday, have sparked outrage across Canada, with many viewing the move as an attack on the country’s economy and its long-standing alliance with the U.S. The tariffs, which include a 10% levy on energy, threaten to escalate into a full-blown trade war between the two nations.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the nation Saturday evening, urging Canadians to stand together. “Many among us will be affected by this, and we will have some hard times. I ask you to be there for each other,” Trudeau said. “Now is the time to choose Canada.”

In response, Canadians have begun organizing boycotts of American products, cancelling travel plans to the U.S., and sharing guides on social media for avoiding American-made goods. Some provinces, including Ontario, have announced plans to remove American alcohol from store shelves indefinitely.

Canada has also retaliated with its own tariffs on $155 billion worth of American goods, targeting items like vegetables, clothing, and sports equipment. Goods from Republican-led states, such as Florida orange juice, are being specifically singled out.

Michael Ignatieff, former leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, described the situation as a “shock.” “We’re into a new world, in which the question of whether you can trust America becomes the fundamental question in foreign policy for every country,” he told the BBC.

Pierre Poilievre, leader of Canada’s opposition Conservative Party, called the tariffs “massive, unjust, and unjustified,” emphasizing Canada’s historical alliance with the U.S. in conflicts ranging from World War II to Afghanistan.

Thomas Juneau, a professor at the University of Ottawa, warned that the tariffs represent an “earthquake” in Canada-U.S. relations. “This is extremely destabilizing for Canada,” he said. “As a country, we have massively benefited from our extremely close trade and security partnership with the U.S. for decades.”

Despite the tensions, Canada remains economically reliant on its southern neighbor. The U.S. imports more oil from Canada than any other country, and the two nations share deeply integrated supply chains. However, the prolonged imposition of tariffs could push Canada into a recession within six months, with unemployment rates potentially rising above 7%.

Trump has cited concerns over fentanyl trafficking and illegal migration as reasons for the tariffs, though Canadian officials have noted that less than 1% of fentanyl and illegal border crossings into the U.S. originate from Canada. The Canadian government has offered to spend an additional $1.3 billion to secure the border.

In a Sunday post on Truth Social, Trump reiterated his stance, claiming that the U.S. subsidizes Canada “hundreds of billions of dollars” and suggesting that Canada should become the 51st state. He also warned of harsher penalties if Canada retaliates further.

For now, Canada is focused on targeted retaliation while seeking to preserve the broader relationship. “We prefer to solve our disputes with diplomacy,” Trudeau said. “But we are ready to fight when necessary.”