It took Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada simply minutes to faucet out his response to his nation’s victory over america in a world hockey championship last on Thursday in Boston.
“You possibly can’t take our nation — and you may’t take our recreation,” Mr. Trudeau wrote on X.
Forward of the match, the stakes had been excessive for Canada, the birthplace of hockey. For weeks, President Trump has threatened to devastate the Canadian financial system with tariffs and mockingly belittled the nation by suggesting it turn out to be america’ 51st state.
Mr. Trudeau’s swift riposte after the sport tapped into an anger that has simmered throughout Canada since Mr. Trump took workplace on Jan. 20. His message was echoed from throughout the political aisle. “The true North, robust, free and golden,” Pierre Poilievre, Canada’s opposition chief, wrote on X.
The political tensions had been spilling over into sports activities arenas for weeks; the U.S. nationwide anthem was loudly booed at N.B.A. and N.H.L. video games in Canada.
That didn’t deter Mr. Trump from repeating his taunt earlier than the championship recreation.
“I believe they need to turn out to be the 51st state,” he mentioned throughout a speech on Thursday in Washington. “And also you heard the folks booing the nationwide anthem, however I believe finally they’ll be praising the nationwide anthem.”
Mr. Trump went on to discuss with Mr. Trudeau as “governor,” which he has finished usually in latest weeks.
Mr. Trump additionally known as the U.S. group to specific his assist. On the White Home, his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, mentioned he was trying ahead to watching the sport. “And we look ahead to america beating our soon-to-be 51st state, Canada,” she mentioned.
Later, there have been some boos at the Boston area as Chantal Kreviazuk, a Canadian musician, sang “O Canada.”
There was a twist in her rendition too. She modified the phrases “in all of us command” to “that solely us command.” Ms. Kreviazuk mentioned on Instagram that the change was in response to the speak of annexation.
Mr. Trump’s repeated digs have had a unifying impact in Canada, forging a uncommon consensus among the many public and the political class regardless of the nation going by way of one in all its most divided political durations in latest historical past.
A survey revealed final month by the Angus Reid Institute, a analysis middle, discovered that 90 p.c of Canadian respondents had been against being part of america.
The political significance of a win was not misplaced on the group, Jon Cooper, the Staff Canada coach, mentioned after the sport on Thursday.
“Not solely, like, our group, however Canada wanted a win,” Mr. Cooper mentioned. “This one was totally different. This wasn’t a win for themselves. This was a win for 40-plus million folks.”
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