Canadian Anthem Singer Changes Lyrics to Protest Trump at MLB Game

Canada’s national anthem became the latest flashpoint in growing tensions with the U.S. after singer Chantal Kreviazuk made a subtle but pointed change to "O Canada" before Thursday night’s championship hockey game.

The change came just before Canada beat the U.S. 3-2 in overtime at the 4 Nations Face-Off finals in Boston.

Instead of singing "in all of us command," Kreviazuk deliberately changed the lyrics to "that only us command" – a direct jab at President Trump’s recent comments about making Canada part of the United States.

She wasn’t shy about explaining why she did it.

"Art to me is an expression of our truth," Kreviazuk wrote on Instagram after the game. "The anthem is not a lawful document. It’s an expression of the collective, and it changes when the moment demands it should."

The singer said she actually sang the old lyrics "in all thy sons command" during soundcheck out of habit. That’s when she realized changing just a few words could send a powerful message.

The anthem drama is just the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the two longtime allies. Canadian officials have been pushing back hard against Trump’s comments about annexing their country since he took office in January.

It’s getting pretty heated in the stands too. Last week in Montreal, Canadian fans booed during "The Star Spangled Banner." Some U.S. fans returned the favor Thursday night, booing through "O Canada" in Boston.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau jumped into the fray after Canada’s win, firing off a pointed message on X: "You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game."

Kreviazuk summed up what many Canadians are feeling: "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."

Her publicist, Adam Gonshor, confirmed to the Associated Press that the lyric change was absolutely intentional.