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.
New ‘Hunger Games’ prequel reminds that sometimes past truths aren’t visible
Sunrise on the Reaping recounts the 50th annual Hunger Games, telling the story of Haymitch Abernathy. It's themes and events conjure images of today's U.S. political climate.
At 83, Martha Stewart celebrates gardening with her 101st book
Martha Stewart talks gardening, wanting to be "one of the girls" and her 101st book with NPR Morning Edition host Michel Martin.
‘Segregated facilities’ are no longer explicitly banned in federal contracts
The Trump administration cut a clause from federal contracting rules that had been on the books since the 1960s: Companies are no longer explicitly prohibited from having segregated facilities.
This is why Canada has plenty of eggs — and the U.S. doesn’t
While the U.S. grapples with an egg shortage caused by avian flu, eggs remain plentiful and affordable in Canada. There are reasons for that, including that egg farms there tend to be smaller.
In the Missouri Ozarks, residents struggle to rebuild after tornadoes
Twisters that tore through Union County, Missouri killed 6 people. One couple survived against incomprehensible odds in a trailer obliterated by the storm.
Trump says he’s ending Secret Service protection for Biden’s adult children
President Trump said he was ending "immediately" the Secret Service protection details assigned to Democrat Joe Biden's adult children.
