Trudeau is talking reckless but doesn’t understand he has a world of problems to deal with.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a pointed comment on social media Thursday, taking aim at former President Donald Trump after Canada triumphed over the U.S. in the 4 Nations Face-Off men’s hockey championship. Trudeau’s message read: “You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game,” which many saw as a nod to Trump’s previous controversial remarks about making Canada the 51st state.
The Canadian team secured a thrilling 3-2 victory with an overtime goal from Connor McDavid, a star in the hockey world. This intense rivalry has sparked excitement for future matchups, especially as attention turns to the 2026 Olympics, where Canada will aim to extend its dominance over the U.S., having already bested them in the 2002 and 2010 Winter Games.
Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon, named MVP of the game, acknowledged the tension between the neighboring countries, noting, “A lot of stuff going on with Canada and the U.S. right now, and us playing against each other was kind of a perfect storm for our sport.” The rivalry between the U.S. and Canada has reached a fever pitch with each passing year, and it’s clear that hockey fans on both sides of the border are more invested than ever.
While President Trump had been invited to attend the game in Boston, he was unable to due to prior commitments. However, he did take time to speak with U.S. players before the game, offering his support.
Tensions were visible in the crowd during the performance of Canada’s national anthem, “O Canada,” where some American fans booed, reminiscent of similar behavior by Canadians during the U.S. anthem at a recent Montreal game. The singer for “O Canada,” Chantal Kreviazuk, even altered a line in the anthem, changing “in all of us command” to “that only us command” — a deliberate act of protest against Trump’s rhetoric on Canada’s sovereignty.
Trump has not backed down from his insistence that Canada could one day merge with the United States, a sentiment he has reiterated since Trudeau’s announcement of his resignation. Though Trump has used threats of tariffs as a means of exerting pressure, Canadians have stood firm in their resolve to preserve their independence and identity.