Vice President JD Vance has jokingly warned Canada that the United States will increase tariffs on its neighbors if America wins Thursday’s much-anticipated hockey rematch.
The two rivals meet in Boston in the final of the Four Nations, just days after their brutal first encounter which saw three fights in the first nine seconds before the US triumphed 3-1.
Tensions are running high off the ice, too, in the wake of provocative rhetoric from President Trump.
Trump has stoked animosity after threatening to impose tariffs – prompting fears of a possible trade war. He has also suggested Canada should become America’s 51st state, even referring to the country’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, as ‘governor’.
In response, Canadian fans have repeatedly booed the US national anthem over recent weeks, sparking fury across the border.
Ahead of the game, Vance was asked about the heckling. The vice president was also invited to send a message to the Team USA players.
JD Vance warned Canada that the US will increase tariffs if it wins Thursday’s hockey clash
The two nations played out a brutal game Saturday, which saw three fights in nine seconds
‘We’d like you to kick Canada’s asses again because you don’t boo the United States of America,’ he said before trolling their rivals.
‘And to Canada, if you don’t win, the tariffs are going even higher!’ Vance joked. ‘No I’m kidding… that’s the president’s decision!’
Trudeau watched Saturday’s game from inside the Bell Centre in Montreal but on Thursday morning, Trump confirmed that he will not attend the final.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump revealed that he called Mike Sullivan’s team Thursday morning, before extending a surprising invitation to ‘Governor’ Trudeau to watch the game together.
‘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,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social.
‘I will be speaking before the Governors tonight in D.C., and will sadly, therefore, be unable to attend. But we will all be watching, and if Governor Trudeau would like to join us, he would be most welcome.
‘Good luck to everybody, and have a GREAT game tonight. So exciting! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.’
The teams’ last meeting turned nasty right from faceoff, when Canada’s Brandon Hagel and Team USA’s Matthew Tkachuk dropped the gloves.
Taking to Truth Social, the President announced that he will make a phone call to the team
That was followed by a bout between Matthew’s younger brother, Brady Tkachuk, and Canada’s Sam Bennett just two seconds later.
Meanwhile, Round 3 witnessed an exchange of blows between Canada defenseman Colton Parayko and USA forward JT Miller.
Emotions were running high throughout after Canada fans, in front of Trudeau , furiously booed ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ as it played pre-game.
Following the violent scenes in Quebec over the weekend, USA hockey’s general manager Bill Guerin had urged president Trump to cheer them on from the stands.
