Canadian singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk ignited political discourse during Thursday's 4 Nations Face-Off championship by modifying lyrics in the national anthem to protest Donald Trump's repeated suggestions about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state. The Winnipeg native changed 'in all of us command' to 'that only us command' during her pregame performance, later confirming via publicist Adam Gonshor the alteration directly addressed ongoing sovereignty debates.
'I believe in democracy, and a sovereign nation should not have to defend itself against tyranny,'Kreviazuk told the Associated Press, underscoring her artistic duty to address contemporary issues. The Juno Award winner reinforced her message by writing the modified lyric in mascara on her left hand, sharing an Instagram post featuring the phrase alongside a Canadian flag emoji and flexed bicep symbol.
The protest occurred amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Since his January inauguration, Trump has:
- Suggested annexing Canada as 51st state multiple times
- Threatened new tariffs in ongoing trade disputes
- Prompted direct rebuttals from PM Justin Trudeau
Canadian Public Safety Minister David McGuinty dismissed Trump's remarks during a Thursday press conference:
'Canada has been sovereign for 150 years and will remain so. This 51st state discussion is a non-starter.'
Reactions at Boston's TD Garden proved mixed, with initial boos from American fans quickly overwhelmed by Kreviazuk's powerful vocals. The incident follows similar displays during U.S. anthem performances in Montreal last week, highlighting how sports events increasingly serve as platforms for international political commentary.
Despite the charged atmosphere, Trump maintained engagement with the hockey tournament, personally calling Team USA players before their game. Defenseman Noah Hanifin described the presidential pep talk as 'an honor,' telling reporters:
'We hope to win for our country and for Trump.'
This anthem controversy underscores growing North American divisions over trade policies and national sovereignty. As artists like Kreviazuk leverage global platforms for political expression, analysts predict increased public pushback against Trump's unconventional diplomacy tactics. The NHL declined to comment on whether musical protests violate league policies.
