Canadian hockey fans weren’t so friendly toward the United States national anthem on Saturday after U.S. President Donald Trump sparked a trade war by imposing new tariffs on most goods from their country.
Fans of the Ottawa Senators in Canada’s capital city mostly booed ― with some cheers and applause mixed in ― a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” ahead of the NHL team’s game against Minnesota Wild, accordingtoclipsshared to X.
Calgary Flames fans could also be heard booing the singing of their neighboring country’s anthem, per video shared by Edmonton radio host Courtney Theriault.
Both moments were preceded by Montreal Canadiens fans booing the U.S. anthem before the team’s game against the New Jersey Devils last month, an occurrence that Radio-Canada sports columnist Martin Leclerc tied to Trump’s then-looming threats toward the country at the time.
The boos for the banner arrived after Trump hit America’s northern neighbor with 25% tariffs on most goods ― with the exception of oil, which will face a lesser surtax ― coming from the country.
Mexico and China will also face tariffs, which are set to go into effect at midnight on Tuesday, in a move that experts warn could spark increased prices on everything from tomatoes to tequila.
In response to the Trump tariffs, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that counter-tariffs would be placed on $155 billion worth of American goods — including alcohol, clothing and lumber — coming into Canada.
Canadian hockey fans have previously jumpedin to sing the rest of the U.S. anthem when performers experienced technical issues in recent years but they’ve rarely booed “The Star Spangled Banner” before games.
Leclerc — in a column for Radio-Canada — noted that Montreal hockey fans partially booed the U.S. anthem before a game at the city’s Bell Centre in March 2003, just prior to America’s invasion of Iraq.
The banner was then loudly booed at the arena one day after the invasion, leaving U.S.-born players shocked.
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Montreal Canadiens President Pierre Boivin went on to apologize and called for the team’s fans — a “significant portion” of whom apparently booed the anthem — to “conduct themselves in a manner worthy of our game and our two great nations,” ESPN reported at the time.
“It is our firm belief that this kind of behavior has no place in the context of professional sports,” he said.
The Montreal club would later air a video by team legend and hockey great Jean Béliveau in an effort to deter booing during the banner at the following game.