Canada foreign minister: National anthem booing a result of being “insulted”
The tensions between the United States and Canada have taken center stage at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, and according to Canada’s foreign minister, there is a good reason for it. The political rift between the two countries first began at an NHL game on February 1 when Ottawa Senators fans booed “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The controversy escalated the following day when Toronto Raptors fans followed suit, but it reached another level at the hockey tournament when the booing drew national attention.
Canadian fans booing the American national anthem seemed to be a response to President Donald Trump’s talk of tariffs and turning Canada into the 51st state. After Canada’s win over Team USA, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to social media to address the controversy, stating, “You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game.” The booing continued at sporting events, with New York Rangers fans booing the Canadian anthem during a home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With Trump’s tariffs going into effect, hockey fans from Canada are expected to continue taking digs at games, according to Mélanie Joly, Canada’s foreign minister. Joly expressed her frustration, stating, “This is not a joke anymore. This is not something we laugh at. Listen, we’ve had enough with this rhetoric. No Canadians now are having fun with this. And there’s a reason why Canadians, when they go out to a hockey game, are booing the American national anthem. We’re insulted. We’re mad. We’re angry.”
Trump signed an executive order authorizing an additional 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports. Energy imported from Canada, including oil, natural gas, and electricity, would be taxed at an additional 10%. In response, Trudeau announced retaliatory tariffs.
The tariffs went into effect on Tuesday, further escalating the tensions between the two countries. The situation remains tense, with both sides standing firm in their positions. It remains to be seen how this ongoing dispute will affect future interactions between the United States and Canada.
