Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau swipes at Donald Trump after Canada’s thrilling 3-2 overtime hockey win over the U.S. in the 4 Nations Face-Off final.
Moments after the win, Trudeau posted on X (formerly Twitter): “You can’t take our country – and you can’t take our game.”
His remark referenced Trump’s repeated comments about annexing Canada as the 51st U.S. state.
A Hockey Win Amid Political Tensions
The Boston match was more than a game. It played out against a backdrop of rising U.S.-Canada tensions. Trump has hinted at heavy tariffs on Canadian exports, fueling concerns of a trade war. At the same time, he continues to make offhand remarks about bringing Canada under U.S. rule.
The atmosphere in the arena reflected these tensions. Canadian fans have booed the U.S. national anthem at recent sporting events. But this time, it was American fans booing “O Canada” in response. However, many in the crowd eventually joined in singing the anthem.
Chantal Kreviazuk’s Protest During the Anthem
Adding to the political undertones, Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk made a bold statement. She altered the lyrics of O Canada in protest of Trump’s remarks.
Instead of singing “in all of us command,” she sang “that only us command.” Later, she posted a photo of the revised lyrics on Instagram, writing: “We should express our outrage in the face of any abuses of power.”
Her publicist confirmed that the change was intentional and aimed at defending Canada’s sovereignty.
A Game with Historic Significance
In Canada, hockey is more than a sport. It is a national symbol. Some of the country’s most patriotic moments have been tied to hockey, like Sidney Crosby’s golden goal in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Canada and the U.S. have faced off 20 times in best-on-best tournaments since the 1976 Canada Cup. Canada holds the edge, winning 14 of those encounters.
The 4 Nations Face-Off final was the most significant U.S.-Canada matchup since the 2014 Winter Olympics. The game featured top NHL stars, including Canada’s Connor McDavid and Mitch Marner and America’s Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel.
Trump’s Response to Canada’s Victory
Trump skipped the game but wished the U.S. team luck. He later posted on Truth Social, reiterating his desire for Canada to become part of the U.S..
He wrote: “I hope Canada will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished and very important, Fifty-First State.”
National Pride on Display
For Canadian fans, the victory was more than just a championship win. It was a moment of national pride. Many saw it as a symbolic pushback against Trump’s annexation remarks.
Hockey journalist Daniel Nugent-Bowman summed it up: “For fans across North America, this was a dream matchup. But for Canada, it meant even more.”
With the win secured and the anthem protest making headlines, Canada sent a strong message: *Its game, and its country, are not up for grabs.
