Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mocked President Donald Trump on social media shortly after the Canadian hockey team defeated the U.S. team 3-2 in the finals of the NHL’s Four Nations Face-Off on Friday, following Trump’s repeated taunts calling for Canada to become the 51st U.S. state in the build-up to the game.
Sam Reinhart of Team Canada hoists the 4 Nations Face-Off Trophy after their 3-2 overtime win in the … [+] 4 Nations Face-Off Championship game.
World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images
Key Facts
Shortly after the Canadian team scored the game-winning goal in overtime, Trudeau wrote on X: “You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game.”
Trudeau’s sentiment was echoed by his political rival and opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, who tweeted: “Canada’s game. Canada’s legacy. The true North, strong, free and golden.”
The highly anticipated final took place amid growing tensions between Canada and the U.S. over Trump’s economic threats that include a 25% tariff against the neighboring country.
Just before the game, the Canadian national anthem was booed by fans in Boston’s TD Arena, in an apparent response to the “Star Spangled Banner” being booed in various arenas across Canada over the past month.
Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk, who performed her country’s anthem in Boston ahead of the game, tweaked the lyrics slightly to change the phrase “in all of us command” to “that only us command,” in protest against Trump’s remarks about making Canada the 51st U.S. state.
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What Did Trump Say Before The Game?
Ahead of Thursday night’s finals, Trump repeated his threat to make Canada the 51st U.S. state. In a post on his Truth Social platform, the president wrote he’ll call the American team to “spur them on towards victory tonight against Canada.” Trump then said he hopes that Canada will “someday, maybe soon, become our cherished, and very important, Fifty First State” with “FAR LOWER TAXES AND MUCH STRONGER SECURITY.” The president also continued to mock the Canadian prime minister by calling him “Governor Trudeau” once again and saying he’s welcome to join an address Trump will be giving U.S. governors in Washington D.C. on Thursday.
Crucial Quote
In the post-game press conference, the Canadian team’s coach Jon Cooper said: “Every player in that team is proud to be a Canadian…Not only our team, but Canada needed win and the players beared that on their shoulders…This wasn’t a win for themselves this was a win for 40 plus million people.”
Key Background
The two leaders’ comments and the game itself took place against the backdrop of political tension between the two countries. Canada and its government have been the targets of repeated attacks by Trump, who has accused them of failing to prevent the entry of drugs and undocumented migrants into the U.S. The president was set to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, but the move was put on pause for a month as the countries reached a temporary agreement on the border security issue. However, Trump has insisted he is serious about wanting Canada to become the 51st U.S. state and told Fox News that the country “would be much better off” if it did so. Trudeau in particular has been a major target for Trump, who has repeatedly referred to the Canadian Prime Minister as “Governor Trudeau.”
Further Reading
Trump Confirms He’s Serious About Wanting Canada As 51st State (Forbes)
Trump Says Canada Should Merge With U.S.—Trolling Trudeau As He Steps Down (Forbes)
Trump Mocks ‘Governor Justin Trudeau’ After Canadian Prime Minister Flags Tariff Concerns (Forbes)
