Trudeau fires back at Trump after Canada’s 4 Nations hockey victory

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a swipe at the United States on Thursday night after Canada’s thrilling overtime victory against the Americans in the 4 Nations championship game, emphasizing Canada’s sovereignty in the process.

“You can’t take our country, and you can’t take our game,” Trudeau declared in a post on Twitter/X, following Team Canada’s dramatic 3-2 win over its North American rival.

Trudeau’s remark appeared to be a direct response to President Donald Trump’s past claims about absorbing Canada into the United States as its fifty-first state. 

Though publicly defiant of the U.S. absorbing Canada, Trudeau’s private concerns about Trump’s rhetoric were caught on a hot mic earlier this month. 

Addressing business and labour leaders, Trudeau acknowledged the idea of U.S. annexation as “a real thing,” using America’s interest in Canada’s critical minerals as an example.

“They’re very aware of our resources, of what we have, and they very much want to benefit from those,” said Trudeau on the recording. 

“But, Mr. Trump has it in mind that one of the easiest ways of doing that is absorbing our country.”

Hours before the championship game, Trump personally called Team USA to offer encouragement, praising their talent, and jokingly referencing Canada’s potential statehood. 

Team USA GM Bill Guerin later confirmed Trump had brought up the fifty-first state during the call.

The 4 Nations Face-Off, replacing this year’s NHL All-Star Game, reignited the heated Canada-U.S. rivalry. 

Fans on both sides stoked tensions, with Canadian supporters booing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in Montreal last weekend, and American fans jeering Chantal Kreviazuk’s rendition of “O Canada” in Boston. 

Kreviazuk even altered the anthem’s lyrics in protest.

Despite the off-ice drama, Canada’s victory reaffirmed its dominance in hockey, while Trudeau’s remark made it clear that national pride remains non-negotiable.