1 hour ago
The US may have clinched its first Winter Olympics gold in 46 years after defeating arch-rival Canada, but the contest did not end at the rink. It spilled into the diplomatic arena when the White House mocked former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who had confidently predicted that Canada would claim ice hockey gold at the 2026 Winter Games.
“You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game,” Trudeau had tweeted on February 21 last year. But when the US edged past Canada 2–1 in a dramatic gold medal clash, the White House responded with a cheeky post: a bald eagle looming over a Canadian goose.
The symbolism was unmistakable. The bald eagle — America’s national emblem — stood tall and triumphant, while the goose, often associated with Canada, appeared subdued. The post quickly ignited social media, reigniting the long-running US-Canada rivalry.
The White House’s swipe also came following Canada’s 3-2 overtime win against the US at the NHL’s Four Nations Face-Off tournament last year — a victory Trudeau had celebrated. However, that event was not an Olympic competition. Despite Canada’s storied hockey legacy, it has now gone three straight Winter Olympics without a gold medal in men’s ice hockey.
The online sparring over ice hockey echoed a broader chill in cross-border ties, where sporting rivalry increasingly overlaps with political friction.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly fanned tensions, taking pointed jabs at Canadian leaders while threatening fresh tariffs on key Canadian exports. He had called Trudeau a “governor,” while underscoring his long-running quip about Canada becoming America’s “51st state.”
Trump has also used tariffs as leverage in trade negotiations, warning of economic consequences if Ottawa does not align with Washington’s demands. The levies target sectors affecting the Canadian steel, aluminium and auto industries. The rhetoric has rattled markets and drawn firm pushback from Canadian officials, who insist the country will not be pressured into concessions.
The barbs have gone beyond Trudeau. Trump has also targeted Canada’s current Prime Minister, Mark Carney, referring to him as a “governor” and questioning his economic record. He has portrayed Carney as part of what he describes as a complacent Canadian elite.
Carney took a pointed swipe at Trump during recent remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, warning against economic nationalism and unilateral trade actions that risk destabilising global markets. Trump responded in a characteristic fashion, mocking Carney as a “governor” and claiming that Canada benefits disproportionately from access to the US market.
For now, the scoreboard may favour the US on the ice. Off it, however, the rivalry rolls on — blending sport with politics and turning an old contest into a volatile mix.
- Ends
Published By:
Prateek Chakraborty
Published On:
Feb 23, 2026
Tune In
