Canadian fans boo U.S. national anthem at NBA matchup as tariff dispute heats up
Tensions have been brewing between the United States and Canada ever since President Trump ignited a trade war with U.S. neighbors — and now, they’re spilling over into the world of sports.
On Sunday, the NBA’s Toronto Raptors hosted the Los Angeles Clippers. But before the game began, fans at the Scotiabank Arena loudly booed during the U.S. national anthem.
The jab was immediate once 15-year-old Kyra Daniel, who is from Ontario, Canada, started singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It largely died down halfway into the performance, but some consistent booing remained, says Adam Laskaris, a sports journalist who attended the basketball game.
Lot of boos for the American anthem before the Raptors game today.
Conversely, lot of cheers and singing for O Canada. pic.twitter.com/pi9lCZC903
— Adam Laskaris (@adam_la2karis) February 2, 2025
Daniels received resounding applause after singing “O’ Canada,” the Canadian national anthem.
Similar jeers broke out at National Hockey League games in Canada over the weekend, including during performances of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before matches between the Ottawa Senators and the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night and between the Vancouver Canucks and the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.
Laskaris, who works at Daily Hive, a Canadian online news outlet, told NPR that he believes the boos were a direct response to the tariffs imposed by Trump. On Saturday, the U.S. president signed executive orders imposing a 25% tax on most imports from Canada and Mexico, and a 10% tax on goods from China. The tariffs are set to go into effect on Tuesday.
“We’ve always had a pretty friendly relationship with the U.S. in my lifetime, and this feels different,” he said. “I think a lot of us just feel betrayed more than anything given the history of the two countries almost always supporting one another.”
In turn, Canada’s government said it would impose 25% retaliatory tariffs on a range of U.S. products, including appliances, clothing, wine and spirits, orange juice, peanut butter and motorcycles. The Canadian tariffs are also scheduled to take effect on Tuesday.
A 2nd judge orders thousands of fired federal employees temporarily reinstated
A federal judge in Maryland found the Trump administration acted unlawfully in firing thousands of federal employees by not first notifying states.
Democratic Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva of Arizona dies at 77
Democratic U.S. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva of Arizona, who championed environmental protection during his 12 terms in Congress, died Thursday of complications from cancer treatments, his office said.
‘Doesn’t make any sense’: Mahmoud Khalil’s lawyer on govt. efforts to deport him
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Mahmoud Khalil's attorney, Amy Greer, about her client's recent arrest. Khalil, a green card holder, is currently being detained by ICE officers.
Israel targets what it says was an Islamic Jihad command center in Damascus
An Israeli airstrike targeted a building in an upscale neighborhood, destroying an apartment that neighbors said had been vacant for years.
Donatella Versace to step down as brand’s chief creative officer after nearly 30 years
Donatella took over the brand after the murder of her brother, Gianni Versace, its founder, in 1997. Her bold creative vision and unique style have been instrumental in preserving the Versace legacy.
As global tariff tensions rise, here’s the latest on U.S. trade with top partners
President Trump has upended global markets by imposing tariffs on imports from several of America's top trading partners. Here's what to know.
