Amid political tensions between the U.S. and Canada, their respective national hockey teams geared up Thursday for a championship game.
Their rivalry has been heating up recently, as evidenced by the widespread boos heard from Canadian fans during the U.S. national anthem during one recent 4 Nations game.
Canadian Hockey Fans Boo Their Future National Anthem https://t.co/clScnxZ04e pic.twitter.com/RRx6ftepMi
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) February 16, 2025
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt referenced President Donald Trump’s repeated musings about annexing Canada during her remarks about the game earlier in the day.
According to The Hill:
President Trump “looks forward to watching the game tonight,” Leavitt told reporters as the U.S. team readies to go up against Canada in Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-Off championship game. “And we look forward to the United States beating our soon-to-be 51st state, Canada.”
Leavitt’s jab follows Trump’s repeat proposals of a merger with Canada, despite stark opposition to the idea from Canadian officials. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said “there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell” that Canada would join its neighbor.
Trump’s remarks about Canada since securing a second term on Election Day have caused some in the Great White North to lash out in the Canadian equivalent of anger:
Elizabeth May responds to Donald Trump, suggesting that the west coast states and New England (and Bernie Sanders) should join Canada:
"We do not aspire to be the 51st state … If it was a joke, it was never funny, and it ends now."#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/Lut69wZQ3C
— Jarryd Jäger (@JarrydJaeger) January 3, 2025
But the response of hockey fans to the singing of America’s anthem was a bridge too far for many in the States and even some fellow Canadians:
Boo our national anthem?
FAFO 🇺🇸 🦅 #freebird #USAvsCAN pic.twitter.com/k98lqPOlG8
— Russell Fry (@RussellFrySC) February 16, 2025
Pierre Poilievre attended the recent Canada / America game. But unlike his Liberal counterparts, he didn't boo the American national anthem. He sang along with every word.
Do you think Poilievre is a man of the people? pic.twitter.com/XtV5Hiljm9
— Mark Slapinski (@mark_slapinski) February 19, 2025
Trump had his own words for Team USA, as Fox News reported:
On Truth Social, the busy president wrote he would give the team a ring and teased Canada again.
“I’ll be calling our GREAT American Hockey Team this morning to spur them on towards victory tonight against Canada, which with FAR LOWER TAXES AND MUCH STRONGER SECURITY, will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished, and very important, Fifty First State,” he wrote.
Trump added he would not be able to attend the game.
“I will be speaking before the Governors tonight in D.C., and will sadly, therefore, be unable to attend,” he said. “But we will all be watching, and if Governor Trudeau would like to join us, he would be most welcome. Good luck to everybody, and have a GREAT game tonight. So exciting!”
Here’s how Vice President JD Vance reacted to the disrespectful reception north of the border:
JD Vance responds to Canada booing the US National Anthem and a message to Team USA Hockey for tonight’s rematch:
“We’d like you to kick Canada’s asses again because you don’t boo the United States of America.
To Canada, if you don’t win, the tariffs are going even higher!”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 20, 2025
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