Vengeful moment Canadian fans boo US national anthem as shops begin stripping shelves of US liquor hours after Trump’s 25% tariff announcement

Furious Canadian fans booed the American national anthem at sports games north of the border over the weekend, hours after Donald Trump imposed 25% tariffs on imports from their country.

A video emerged of fans of the NBA’s lone Canadian franchise – the Toronto Raptors  – expressing their anger, after similar scenes were witnessed at ice hockey games in Ottawa, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta.

After initially cheering for the 15-year-old female singer, basketball fans booed throughout the US national anthem, almost drowning out her arena performance.

At the end, mixed boos and cheers could be heard, before the crowd erupted into applause for the Canadian anthem ‘Oh Canada’.

Meanwhile, President Trump’s tariffs have triggered a ‘buy local’ response in Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau quickly slapped retaliatory tariffs of 25% against $155 billion worth of US goods, including vegetables, clothing, sports equipment, perfume and others – and many stores are no longer selling American liquor.

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) quickly pulled all American alcohol from its government-run liquor shelves in response to the tariffs.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford ordered the products to be off the shelves beginning on Tuesday, when the levies are set to go into place.

US alcohol products will also be taken out of catalogs, so other retailers cannot order or restock those items, Premier Ford said in a statement on Sunday.

He said: ‘Every year, LCBO sells nearly $1 billion worth of American wine, beer, spirits and seltzers. Not anymore.

‘There has never been a better time to choose an amazing Ontario-made or Canadian-made product.’ 

Tensions between the US and its neighbour are escalating after President Trump declared an economic emergency on Saturday and followed through on his threat to hike tariffs, also imposing 25% on Mexico and 10% on Chinese goods.

The three countries affected are the US’ three largest trading partners.

Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum also ordered retaliatory tariffs on goods from the US.

Sports fans did not hold back after Trump’s announcement, booing the Star-Spangled Banner as it played for visiting US teams, including at a National Hockey League match in the Canadian capital on Saturday.

Then, basketball fans continued the trend at the Toronto Raptors – Los Angeles Clippers game on Sunday.

Fans also booed as Agasha Mutesasira began her performance of the American national anthem in Vancouver, British Columbia when the NHL’s Canucks hosted the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night.

Red Wings forward Patrick Kane said after Detroit’s win: ‘I mean, it’s too bad, right? It is what it is. I guess you can maybe understand it from this side, but it seems like it’s a thing that going around the league right now.’

The brutal reaction from usually respectful fans has broadcast many Canadian’s rage at President Trump’s steep taxes, which threatens to start a trade war.

The only exception to the 25% tariffs is imported energy, which has been hit with a lower levy of 10%, including oil, natural gas and electricity.

The announcement came as Trump doubled down on his assertion that Canada should join the US as its 51st state. 

He wrote on Truth Social: ‘We pay hundreds of Billions of Dollars to SUBSIDIZE Canada. Why? There is no reason.

‘We don’t need anything they have. We have unlimited Energy, should make our own Cars, and have more Lumber than we can ever use. 

‘Without this massive subsidy, Canada ceases to exist as a viable Country. Harsh but true!’

‘Therefore, Canada should become our Cherished 51st State.

‘Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada – AND NO TARIFFS!’

Trudeau has said that Trump’s comments on turning Canada into the 51st state is just a distraction from the consequences of his tariffs and said it is ‘not going to happen’.

While economists and international leaders forecast that tariffs will drive up costs for American businesses and families on everyday essentials, from gas to groceries, Canada is the more exposed trading partner.

If these tariffs last, Canada could tip into a painful economic recession, it has been warned.

As anger builds, political leaders in Canada are pushing back. 

Trudeau said on Saturday: ‘Many among us will be affected by this, and we will have some hard times. I ask you to be there for each other. Now is the time to choose Canada.’

Social media has seen guides circulating on how to avoid American-made products, and one Toronto grocery store even began labelling its Canadian yoghurt for shoppers, according to an image posted on X (formerly Twitter). 

Others have claimed they are cancelling travel plans to the US.

Canadian author Seth Klein said on Bluesky on Sunday: ‘Yesterday, in response to Trump tariffs, we cancelled our family March break to the US.

‘Took a small hit on cancelled train tickets, but it needed to be done.’

The LCBO’s decision to take American alcohol off the shelves could have heavy knock-on effects.

As one of the largest wholesalers of alcohol, it sold more than 1.1 billion litres of alcohol products in Ontario in 2023, the largest Canadian state by population.

In a statement to CNBC, the LCBO said it will be halting sale of US alcohol ‘indefinitely’, which includes more than 3,600 products.

The move follows similar announcements from other premiers in Canada. 

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston directed the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation to remove all American alcohol from their shelves on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, others targeted Republican states in particular, with British Columbia Premier David Eby directing the BC Liquor Distribution Branch to ‘immediately stop buying American liquor from ‘red states’ and remove the top-selling ‘red-state’ brands from the shelves.’