The recent announcement of new tariffs on Canadian imports by President Donald Trump has ignited anger among Canadians, and the resentment has now made its way into the sports world.
Tensions were high during an NHL game on Saturday night as the Ottawa Senators hosted the Minnesota Wild at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ontario.
The controversy unfolded before the game even began, during the performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Ottawa-based singer Mandia was on the ice to sing the American national anthem, but her rendition was met with boos from the predominantly Canadian crowd of nearly 20,000 fans. Despite the hostile reception, Mandia continued her performance to completion.
The crowd’s reaction was driven by Trump’s decision to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports, set to take effect on February 4, alongside a 10% tariff on Chinese goods. The move has escalated trade tensions, with Canada and Mexico responding by introducing tariffs on U.S. products.
Trump defended the tariffs, claiming they would stay in place until Canada, Mexico, and China took measures to address the flow of fentanyl and undocumented immigrants into the U.S. The decision has sparked concerns about the possibility of a prolonged trade war.
Despite the political tension, the Ottawa Senators delivered a dominant performance, defeating the Minnesota Wild 6-0. However, the incident during the anthem highlighted the growing strain in U.S.-Canada relations under the Trump administration. With both sides standing firm, the conflict seems likely to continue throughout Trump’s presidency.
