Justin Trudeau was roundly mocked after he celebrated Canada‘s overtime victory against the United States Thursday night with a brutal tweet at Donald Trump.
The outgoing prime minister has been a punching bag of the president ever since Trump won in November, threatening to annex Canada and referring to him as ‘Governor Trudeau.’
Trump’s comments have led to frayed relations between the two countries, with Canada booing the American national anthem in Montreal during the tournament.
American fans returned the favor to ‘O Canada’ at the 4 Nations Face-Off final in Boston Thursday, which itself was altered by a Canadian singer as a form of protest against Trump.
After Connor McDavid scored the game-winning overtime goal, Trudeau was blunt, posting: ‘You can’t take our country and you can’t take our game’ in English and in Quebecois French.
While some congratulated Trudeau on Canada’s victory, many slammed the prime minister for his response.
‘You won a hockey game. You lost your country. You can’t fool anyone with distractions. Hockey games don’t buy you a home, lower taxes, generate jobs, improve the dollar and reduce crime. Call an election Mr hockey,’ wrote one.
Multiple people asked the governor: ‘Didn’t you resign?’
After Connor McDavid scored the game-winning overtime goal, Trudeau was blunt, posting: ‘You can’t take our country and you can’t take our game’ in English and in Quebecois French
‘You can’t hockey your way out of this Justin,’ added another.
One more joked: ‘500% tariffs, and we’re going to take your land by force.’
As a result, Canadian fans have been voicing their opposition by booing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at NHL and NBA games in recent days.
When asked about the reception, USA alternate captain and Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk simply said, ‘I didn’t like it. That’s all I got.’
In recent years, the fierce hockey rivalry between the US and Canada has only gained in its competitiveness. Because of that, some players are viewing the booing of the anthem as extra fuel to fire them up.
‘I think we like it,’ said New York Rangers forward JT Miller. ‘Not politically, but maybe just as a sense of, we know where we’re at in Canada and I think that fires us up more than anything. So it’s great.’
‘Everyone has their own views on things,’ said Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber. ‘I’m honored to wear the red, white and blue. For us, we’re just focused on winning games.
‘Obviously, the fans here are going to be against us. And, you know, it’s going to be the same thing when it’s USA-Canada, or whoever, USA-Sweden back home in Boston, right?’
While some congratulated Trudeau on Canada’s victory, many slammed the prime minister for his response
Trump has also stoked the fire between the two countries by threatening to issue new tariffs to the Northern neighbors and even referring to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as ‘governor.’
Earlier in the day, the president wished the United States’ players good luck with a phone call.
At last Thursday night’s game between the US and Finland held at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canadian fans in attendance began heartily booing the American national anthem.
It comes amid heightened tensions between the two nations that were sparked by provocative rhetoric from President Trump – including threats of a trade war due to an increase of tariffs on Canadian goods.
‘I just want to wish you a lot of luck. You really are a skilled group of people,’ he said. ‘It’s an honor to talk to you… We love you guys. We’ll be watching tonight. Bring it home.
The rivalry reached new levels on Thursday night when Kreviazuk performed ‘O Canada,’ and changed the line ‘in all of us command’ to ‘in only us command,’ suggesting that Trump had better stay out.
A representative for the singer told the CBC that the switch was done on purpose in response to Trump.
The performance was controversial to begin with some calling it the ‘worst’ ever while others missed her intentional lyric switch-up and mocked her for not knowing the words.
Chantal Kreviazuk changed the lyrics to the Canadian national anthem ahead of the game
Canada’s Sidney Crosby, center, celebrates after his goal against Finland during the third period of a 4 Nations Face-Off hockey game
Donald Trump has suggested that the United States could annex Canada as a 51st state
Kreviazuk also held her note when she sang ‘free’ and was accused of being out of tune by some viewers.
Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order to implement a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico.
The measure, which would begin on March 4, has yet to kick in, though his recent rhetoric has troubled those up North.
‘I think Canada would be better off being the 51st state because we lose $200 billion a year to Canada, and I’m not going to let that happen, it’s too much,’ he said. ‘Why are we paying $200 billion a year essentially as a subsidy?’
The NHL has taken a pause for the ‘4 Nations Faceoff’ – a mini tournament held between the USA, Canada, Sweden, and Finland as a tune-up before NHL players are finally allowed to compete again at the Winter Olympics.
