Canadian hockey fans could once again be heard booing the US national anthem amid President Trump’s threats of tariffs – despite officials pleading with them beforehand.
The US were taking on Finland in the Four Nations Face-Off in Montreal on Thursday night, but much of the build-up was dominated by whether Canadian fans would once again show their disapproval of their neighbors to the south.
Just days after Ottawa Senators supporters booed the US anthem before an NHL game against Minnesota, Montreal’s hockey fans made their voices heard.
As each of the Team USA players’ names were read out by the public address announcer, they were met by loud boos from the crowd north of the border.
Incredibly, the announcer then pleaded with fans to ‘show respect’ to the anthems of both nations before they were played, but some went against the request and boos could be heard in the background.
Taking to X, one fan wrote: ‘Canadians are such losers for still booing our National Anthem. Why is this game even in Montreal?’
Boos could be heard ringing around the Bell Centre in Montreal during the US national anthem
Team USA players were also booed by the Canadian crowd when their names were announced
Another added: ‘Watching the NHL 4 Nations Playoff. It’s in Montreal and all those f***ing babies are booing the USA players. Now they are booing the USA National anthem. What a bunch of b*****s. That’s not a very good representation of the future 51st State.’
A third noted: ‘Shameful behaviour in Montreal during the US National Anthem at the 4 Nations. Grow the f*** up people, you’re an embarrassment.’
At the end of the anthem, a respectful round of applause was heard from some, which was noted by many fans watching the ESPN broadcast.
The Canadian anger towards America comes after President Trump ordered 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and 10% on goods from China, sparking major trade war fears.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would respond with 25% tariffs against $155billion of U.S. goods, including beer, wine, lumber and appliances, beginning with $30billion taking effect Tuesday and $125billion 21 days later.
Trump has – temporarily – paused his plans, giving Canada and the US a month to negotiate the planned import tax on all steel and aluminum products entering America from March 12.
President Trump is threatening hefty tariffs against Canada after beginning his second term
There was a smattering of Americans that cheered the anthem when it finished
On Thursday, though, Trump did threaten further tariffs on both Canada and France over their digital services taxes on US technology giants.
Canada, seeking to address the challenge of taxing digital giants like Google parent Alphabet and Amazon.com that can book their profits in low-tax countries, began imposing the tax in June last year.
Trump tasked his economics team on Thursday with devising a plan to impose reciprocal tariffs on every country that levied duties on U.S. imports.
A White House fact sheet, stating that ‘only America should be allowed to tax American firms,’ complained Canada and France used digital services taxes to each collect over $500 million per year from U.S. companies.
‘Overall, these non-reciprocal taxes cost America’s firms over $2 billion per year. Reciprocal tariffs will bring back fairness and prosperity to the distorted international trade system and stop Americans from being taken advantage of,’ said the fact sheet. It gave no further details.