Toronto Raptors fans boo U.S. anthem ahead of Sunday's game against L.A. Clippers

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Basketball fans in Toronto made it clear how they feel about U.S. president Donald Trump’s tariffs against Canada on Sunday afternoon.

Ahead of a game between the Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers, many fans loudly booed as the Star-Spangled Banner was sung by 15-year-old Kyra Daniel. It began immediately and continued throughout the U.S. anthem, though Daniel was cheered when she finished singing.

The Canadian anthem was cheered wildly, with many singing along and emphasizing parts like True North strong and free.

The reaction in Toronto came a day after hockey fans in Ottawa loudly booed the U.S. anthem before the Senators played the Minnesota Wild following Trump’s announcement of 25% tariffs on some Canadian goods and 10% on energy Saturday night.

Returning American superstar Kawhi Leonard, who led the Raptors to the franchise’s only NBA championship and the only title by a Canadian team in the big four sports since the Montreal Canadiens hoisted the Stanley Cup in 1993 and the Toronto Blue Jays won a second straight World Series, received a standing ovation during player introductions as did the American-born Raptors.

Raptors big man Kelly Olynyk, who grew up in Toronto and then Kamloops, B.C., said after the game: “Obviously it has an impact on a lot of people in this country and this stadium. I mean, that’s their opinion. You feel bad for the girl singing. I mean, state of the world right now.”

Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch reported Saturday from Ottawa that anthem singer Mandia Nantsios also sang with far more fans than usual taking part in the Canadian anthem.

Nantsios posted on her Instagram account on Sunday morning that the booing didn’t bother her and she expected the negative reaction, Garrioch said.

“Thank you to everyone who reached out to let me know it wasn’t directed at me,” Nantsios wrote. “They had warned me.”

The Raptors host the New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies later this week. Don’t expect the booing to stop anytime soon.