Canadians boo US national anthem (VIDEO)

Canadian hockey fans booed the US national anthem during an NHL game in Ottawa on Saturday. The spectators' expression of displeasure with their southern neighbor comes after the administration of US President Donald Trump imposed new trade tariffs on Canada.

The incident took place at the Canadian Tire Center before the Ottawa Senators took on the Minnesota Wild. As Canadian singer Mandia began to perform the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’, numerous spectators jeered the song. Notwithstanding the crowd’s reaction, Mandia finished the anthem without a hitch. However, the mood changed when she sang ‘O Canada’, which drew applause and widespread cheers.

The home team went on to soundly defeat the Wild 6-0.

Trump recently announced a 25% tariff on imports from both Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, portraying the move as a response to concerns over illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized the move and vowed that his government would “not back down in standing up for Canadians” while announcing a reciprocal measure on a wide range of American goods, including beer, wine, bourbon, fruits, and home appliances.

The specter of a new trade war emerged several weeks ago when Trump suggested that Canada could become the 51st US state. The American president, in particular, accused Ottawa of “taking advantage of the US for years” and unfair trade practices, adding that “Canada is totally reliant on us, therefore they should be a state.” The sentiment drew a strong rebuke from Trudeau, who declared that there isn’t “a snowball's chance in hell” that the two countries would merge.