The Star-Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the United States, was once again met with boos from a Canadian crowd on Sunday. The event occurred at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, where the Toronto Raptors were set to take on the Los Angeles Clippers. A 15-year-old female singer performed the US national anthem, which was met with a mix of boos and cheers from the crowd. However, she received a resounding applause when she sang the Canadian national anthem, “O, Canada.”
This is not the first time that the US national anthem has been met with disapproval in Canada. Similar instances were seen on Saturday, where the Ottawa Senators and Calgary Flames hosted NHL games. The phenomenon began recently, following President Donald Trump’s decision to place tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China.
The tariffs were implemented in response to what the Trump administration described as an “extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl, that constitutes a national emergency.” The move is meant to hold Canada, Mexico, and China accountable for their role in halting illegal immigration and drug trafficking into the US.
In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has lamented the tariffs and stated that less than 1% of fentanyl and less than 1% of illegal crossings into the US come from Canada. The controversy has sparked heated debate and division between the two nations.