4 Nations hockey: National anthem singer changes ‘O Canada’ lyrics for potshot at Trump over ‘51st State’

The bad blood between USA and Canada has spilled over into the preliminary entertainment at the hugely popular 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship, with a singer changing the lyrics of national anthem O Canada to take a pot shot at Donald Trump.

A representative for Grammy winner Chantal Kreviazuk confirmed to CBC that she intentionally switched up the lyrics in response to the US President’s comments about annexing Canada as the “51st State” of the USA.

The anthem was booed at TD Garden in Boston, apparently in response to the USA’s Star Spangled banner being booed at other tournament games held in Canada since Mr Trump announced US plans to impose tariffs on its close ally and neighbour.

Kreviazuk, changed the lyrics to sing “that only us command” instead of “in all of us command”.

She later took to Instagram to write, “i am sorry if you think that we’d be better off annexed”.

“Here is the thing. art to me is an expression of our truth. and in this very peculiar and potentially consequential moment i truly believe that we must stand up, use our voices and try to protect ourselves… no - we should express our outrage in the face of any abuses of power.

“I was raised in part by music that was inspired by brave voices committed to peaceful conflict resolution.Canada , not unlike ukraine is a sovereign nation. period. we have a culture individual to others. we are united in our values. we care. we’re kind. We are strong.”

Donald Trump had earlier stoked the fire between the countries, posting on Truth Social with a dig about Canada becoming the 51st state.

“I’ll be calling our GREAT American Hockey Team this morning to spur them on towards victory tonight against Canada, which with FAR LOWER TAXES AND MUCH STRONGER SECURITY, will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished, and very important, Fifty First State,” he wrote.