Canada continues to boo American national anthem

TORONTO: Canadian sports fans have voiced their discontent with Donald Trump, his comments about Canada, and his enforcement of tariffs. An NBA game at the Scotiabank arena in Toronto and an NHL game at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver were the two latest instances of mass boos directed at America, in what is quickly becoming a trend.

Fans of the Toronto Raptors booed the performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before they took to the court to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. Vancouver was much the same, as fans at Rogers Arena booed the American anthem before the Detroit Red Wings played the Vancouver Canucks. Fans attempted to focus their boos on the anthem, still cheering for the singers before they began and after they finished.

Ottawa was no different on Saturday, as fans booed the anthem before the Minnesota Wild played the Senators.

The boos were a response to Trump’s enforcement of 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports. Canada has since announced a $155 billion tariff package in a news release that called Trump’s decision “unjustified and unreasonable”.

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“These countermeasures have one goal: to protect and defend Canada’s interests, consumers, workers and businesses.”

Trump has also continued to pitch his idea of making Canada the 51st state of the US, in a post on Truth Social. He claimed that America subsidizes Canada for no reason.

“Harsh but true! Therefore, Canada should become our cherished 51st state. Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada – AND NO TARIFFS!”

He later stated that the “fake news” against the tariffs are entities controlled by China in another post.

The Toronto Raptors will host the New York Knicks on Tuesday, February 4, in what will likely be another game that follows a sea of boos.

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