TORONTO (AP) — Fans at a Toronto Raptors game continued on Sunday with booing the U.S. national anthem at professional sports events in Canada. The reaction seems to be a response to the 25% tariffs arbitrarily imposed by Donald Trump on imports from that country and Mexico.
Additionally, this Sunday, the President of the United States turned to his social network "Truth Social" to once again suggest that Canada should be annexed to the United States and become the 51st state.
"We pay hundreds of billions of dollars to SUBSIDIZE Canada. Why? There is no reason. We don't need anything they have... Without this massive subsidy, Canada ceases to exist as a viable country. Harsh but true! Therefore, Canada should become our beloved 51st state. Much lower taxes and much better military protection for the people of Canada... And NO TARIFFS!" wrote Trump.
What have been the reactions against the United States national anthem in Canada?
Fans of the only Canadian NBA franchise, the Raptors, booed the anthem at the game against the Los Angeles Clippers, following similar reactions on Saturday night in NHL games in Ottawa, Ontario, and Calgary and Alberta, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump made good on his threat to impose tariffs on imports from America's northern neighbor.
After initially applauding a 15-year-old female singer, fans booed during the performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner." At the end, mixed boos and applause could be heard before the crowd erupted in applause for the Canadian anthem, "O Canada."
Trump declared an economic emergency to impose a 25% tax on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tax on imports from China. Imported energy from Canada, including oil, natural gas, and electricity, would be taxed at a rate of 10%.
The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and the President of Mexico ordered retaliatory tariffs on goods from the United States in response.
Booing the national anthem of the United States in Canada is not common, but it is not new either, especially when it is linked to global events. In the early 2000s, fans at games played in Canada would boo to show their disapproval of the United States-led war in Iraq.