Canadian Fans Boo U.S. National Anthem Over Trump Tariffs

Canadian NBA and NHL fans aren’t happy about the new tariffs proposed by President Donald Trump, and they’re not being shy about it.

Fans booed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Saturday’s Senators and Flames games, and Sunday’s Raptors and Canucks games.

Before the games Saturday, Trump announced a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, and a 10% tariff on goods from China. (Canadian energy-related imports would only have a 10% tariff, the White House said.) “President Trump is taking bold action to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country,” reads a White House fact sheet about the tariffs. After speaking with Mexico’s president Claudia Sheinbaum Monday, Trump said he will pause tariffs on imports.)

The tariffs are scheduled to begin Tuesday, and leaders of all three countries have responded with restrictions against the U.S. Canada has announced it will institute a 25% tariff of its own starting Tuesday on $155 billion worth of U.S. goods that go into Canada. On Monday Trump said he will pause tariffs on Mexican imports after having a “very friendly conversation” with President Claudia Sheinbaum.

“Less than 1 per cent of the fentanyl and illegal crossings into the United States come from Canada,” a government news release reads. “We will not stand idly by when our nation is being needlessly and unfairly targeted.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with President Trump Monday morning, with another conversation scheduled for later in the day. Trudeau is also meeting with his Council on Canada-U.S. Relations today, a new group of “leaders in business, innovation, and policy” that met for the first time three days before Trump reclaimed office.

As both countries prepare to pull the trigger on their respective tariffs Tuesday, the number of clashes between U.S. and Canadian teams happening North of the border isn’t slowing down.

Here are this week’s Canadian NHL and NBA games where the U.S. National Anthem will be played:

• Tuesday: Knicks at Raptors, Avalanche at Canucks, Hurricanes at Jets
  
• Wednesday: Grizzlies at Raptors
  
• Thursday: Avalanche at Flames
  
• Friday: Avalanche at Oilers, Islanders at Jets
  
• Saturday: Devils at Canadiens, Kraken at Flames

If Canadian fans keep up the booing, it’s an unfortunate time for the Colorado Avalanche to play a three-game stint “Up North.”