Why Canadian Sports Fans Boo the U.S. National Anthem: A Closer Look at Cross-Border Sports Rivalries

At a recent Toronto Raptors game, fans voiced their frustrations by booing the American national anthem. This trend seems to be catching on across Canada, following similar reactions at NHL games in Ottawa and Calgary the previous night.

The booing coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump announcing new tariffs on imports from Canada, which has sparked a wave of resentment among Canadian fans. As the anthem played, fans initially cheered for the young singer, but their mood quickly shifted, leading to a chorus of boos. Afterward, they enthusiastically applauded their own national anthem, “O Canada.”

A similar scene unfolded in Vancouver when Agasha Mutesasira started singing the American anthem before a Canucks game against the Detroit Red Wings. The crowd booed as she began, reflecting a growing sense of dissatisfaction.

Raptors player Chris Boucher, a Canadian, shared his thoughts after his team’s victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. He noted that he had never seen such a reaction before, immediately linking it to the unfairness of the recent taxes being imposed.

Trump’s tariff announcement involved a 25% tax on imports from Canada and Mexico, along with a 10% tax on products from China. This included energy imports like oil and natural gas. In retaliation, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexico’s president have promised their own tariffs on American goods.

Local resident Joseph Chua, attending the game, expressed concern over how these tariffs would impact his own work as an importer. While he understood the anger, he chose to sit quietly instead of joining in the booing. He felt that a chant of “Canada” might have expressed his feelings better.

Chua mentioned that he’s becoming more aware of the products he buys. He plans to be more selective when grocery shopping, aiming to avoid American goods altogether during this political climate. Historically, booing the U.S. anthem in Canada has been rare, but it has happened before, particularly in response to serious world events.

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard and coach Tyronn Lue were present during the booing but did not comment on it. Lue, however, joined in singing “O Canada,” emphasizing his affection for the song after hearing it many times during playoff games.