Trump Riles Up America’s Nicest Neighbors

OTTAWA — Facing a devastating trade war, Canadians have been canceling on Arizona, bypassing Florida oranges at the grocery store and booing at top volume through the U.S. anthem at the start of NBA and NHL games.

“We have a reputation for being chill, relaxed, kind of an easy going country,” British Columbia Premier David Eby told reporters on Monday morning. “You want to see Canadians get their back up and get things done? Then threaten their sovereignty.”

U.S. President Donald Trump did just that on Monday afternoon in the Oval Office, repeating how he’d like Canada to become a 51st state. While few Canadians understand the president’s desire to punish Canada with 25 percent tariffs, they’ve come to appreciate that it’s all very serious.

So while Canada’s top ministers threatened retaliation and ultimately earned a 30-day reprieve from Trump, ordinary Canadians have been trading notes on random acts of patriotism — returning U.S. products to stores, canceling Netflix subscriptions and announcing plans to avoid American food chains. On X, #BOYCOTTUSA has trended for days.

Late Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada had extended the tariff deadline, to allow the country time to beef up security at its border.

“Make no mistake, Canada and Ontario continue to stare down the threat of tariffs,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said after the update on negotiations. “Whether it’s tomorrow, in a month or a year from now when we’re renegotiating the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, President Trump will continue to use the threat of tariffs to get what he wants.”

Anti-American fever peaked in Canada over the weekend after Trump announced the tariffs were on the way. At a pop-up DJ show in Montreal, a digital sign read “F—K TARIFFS.” On Saturday night in Ottawa, “The Star-Spangled Banner” was booed before the Senators went on to blow out the Minnesota Wild. The jeering continued through the weekend at NHL and NBA games across the country.

“We are seeing a beautiful surge of Maple Leafs,” New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said to reporters Monday. “And I think that comes alongside a bit of anti-American sentiment, a frustration that our closest neighbor and trading partner has decided to treat us this way.”

On social media and family Zoom calls, Canadians plotted ways to use their own dollar, and voice, to send a message to Americans — despite their longstanding history of being friends, neighbors and family.

Politicians and families announced plans to cancel vacations to Florida and Arizona — not an idle threat. Canadians spent C$7B traveling to the United States in the first three months of 2024, recent data from Statistics Canada shows.

“Now is the time to choose products made right here in Canada,” Trudeau said on Sunday over X. “Check the labels. Let’s do our part. Wherever we can, choose Canada.”

With the tariff deadline looming, provinces began removing American alcohol from store shelves and restaurants. Grocery stores had started to put up “Buy Canadian” signs as social media users exchanged lists of made-in-Canada products.

On Monday evening, political and labor groups urged Canadians not to let up.

“The President declared economic war on Canadian workers and our country. There is no turning back,” said Lana Payne, Unifor national president and member of the prime minister’s council on Canada-U.S. relations. “No one should let their guard down at this 30-day pause.”

Trudeau revealed the first phase of Canada’s retaliatory plan on Saturday night. It included levying tariffs on $106 billion worth of U.S. goods targeting Republican states and Trump allies. Several provinces also proposed canceling contracts with U.S. businesses including with Elon Musk’s Starlink.

Small businesses are fed up with Trump’s remarks about Canada becoming a 51st state. That includes Liam Mooney whose business created a viral “CANADA IS NOT FOR SALE” ballcap, meant to be an antidote to Trump’s MAGA hat.

He called his design “a small act of patriotism” that has resonated with many since. Sales of the hat skyrocketed after Ford was spotted wearing one during a meeting last month with the prime minister and other provincial premiers, raking in about C$400,000 in the 24 hours following.

“Canadians love Canada and it’s an important time [for us] with this kind of bluster, this kind of disrespect, this kind of statements about our country,” Mooney said in a recent interview with POLITICO.

“Look around the world of nations and ask any country, ‘Would you like to have Canada as your border country, partner and neighbor?’ Overwhelmingly the answer, obviously, would be yes,” he said.