The United States anthem has been booed during a blockbuster NHL game in Canada after US President Donald Trump pulled the trigger on broad tariffs.
Mr Trump earlier invoked emergency economic powers to implement a 25 per cent tariff tax on Canadian, Mexican and Chinese products exported into the country.
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The move is expected to cause widespread chaos as markets react to the bombshell news.
The ill-feeling from Canadian people was brutally epitomised on Sunday (AEDT) when spectators at the Ottawa Senators-Minnesota Wild game began booing the United States anthem.
Before the start of the game in Ottawa, Canadian artist Mandia performed the “Oh Canada” national anthem before turning to the “Star Spangled Banner”.
Loud booing could be heard on the live TV broadcast and footage shared by spectators inside the 20,000-seat Ottawa Arena also showed there was loud jeering as Mandia finished singing the United States anthem.
Mandia awkwardly looked at the ground after the brutal response to her performance in front of the sold-out crowd.
Canadian hockey fans shared on X that they had never seen anything like the booing the anthem received.
“Canadians boo the American national anthem in Ottawa NHL game just now. I have NEVER seen Canadians boo any national anthem…. ever before in my entire life,” one fan posted.
The tariffs turned the stadium into a political arena — and there are fears upcoming NHL games will receive the same treatment north of the border.
Canadian officials have warned for months that the impact of the tariffs could devastate the economy and cost thousands of jobs.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce his own counter tarriffs.
He said on Saturday (AEDT) Ottawa is ready with “a purposeful, forceful” response.
Doug Ford, premier of Canada’s economic engine Ontario, warned of potential job losses and a slowdown in business with tariffs.
He told CNN on Saturday: “We’re going to stand up for what’s right.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said after the announcement that she was calm as she knows “the Mexican economy is very powerful.”
Sheinbaum has met Mexican business representatives, with her economy minister Marcelo Ebrard saying Saturday the private sector was closing ranks around her in the face of potential commercial “arbitrariness.”
US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has warned new tariffs could “further drive up costs for American consumers.”
Canada and Mexico are major suppliers of US agricultural products. The tariffs are also expected to hit the auto industry hard, with automakers and suppliers producing components throughout the region.
Analysts have warned that hiking import taxes on crude oil from countries like Canada and Mexico threaten US energy prices too.
Nearly 60 per cent of US crude oil imports are from Canada, noted a Congressional Research Service report.
The next NHL game on Canadian soil will see Vancouver fans given the opportunity to boo the American anthem with the Canucks host the Detroit redwings on Monday (AEDT).
— with AFP
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