At Saturday night’s NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the Minnesota Wild, nearly 20,000 Canadian fans booed The Star-Spangled Banne in probable retaliation against U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of new tariffs on Canadian imports. Ottawa-based singer Mandia, who performed the anthem, was met with loud jeers from the crowd, which only intensified as she continued. By the end of her performance, she appeared visibly uncomfortable.
Trump’s tariffs, set to take effect Tuesday, include a 25% tax on goods from Canada and Mexico and a 10% levy on products from China. The move has escalated tensions between the U.S. and Canada, with fears of a trade war looming. In retaliation, Canada announced 25% tariffs on $155 billion worth of U.S. goods, including beer, wine, lumber, and appliances. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned that U.S. consumers would face higher prices on everyday items like groceries and gas, while key industries, such as auto manufacturing, could see disruptions.
As Mandia finished singing The Star-Spangled Banner, the crowd’s disapproval was still echoing through the arena. She paused for a moment before starting O Canada, the Canadian national anthem, while fans passed around Canadian flags in a show of solidarity. The Senators went on to defeat the Wild 6-0, but the protest had already stolen the spotlight.
only time i’ve ever seen canadians boo the us national anthem was during the iraq war pic.twitter.com/mK3MNbaMeQ
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) February 2, 2025
The booing incident quickly made waves on social media. Many fans expressed surprise, with some noting that they had never seen Canadians boo the U.S. national anthem before. One fan pointed out that the only time they could remember a similar protest was during the Iraq War
