“First Reaction When Somebody Boos The National Anthem Is F**k You”– Pat McAfee Brilliantly Defends Calling Canada A “Terrible Country”

Pat McAfee letting the world – specifically Canada – know how he feels about disrespecting the national anthem.

The rivalry between the United States and Canada has never been more intense. That’s because, for the most part, the two neighboring countries have generally been… neighborly. But now that President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau aren’t seeing eye-to-eye on tariffs, America and Canada are experiencing some tension.

That’s been most apparent during professional sporting events that feature teams from both countries. Citizens from Canada have started booing the U.S. national anthem, and vice versa. It all seemingly got started at an NHL game last month (after President Trump initially announced the tariffs), and it’s continued into March.

Specifically, during the WWE Elimination Chamber event in Toronto this past weekend, Canadians booed the national anthem prior to the “wrasling.” Pat McAfee didn’t like that, and called the country of Canada “terrible” before the WWE event officially got underway:

These are the MOST STACKED Elimination Chambers that the WWE has EVER had..

THEY BOOED OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM TO START THIS ENTIRE THING..

BUT IT'S GONNA BE A HISTORIC NIGHT #WWEChamber pic.twitter.com/jy8cAYHftd

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 2, 2025

Seems to me like Pat McAfee was just in “wrestling personality mode,” but that comment evidently angered the people up north.

There was apparently so much noise around it that Pat felt the need to address the backlash during The Pat McAfee Show. The sports personality took a moment out of his show to directly speak to Canada and defend himself for calling their country terrible. Here’s how he started things off:

“Now, Canada. Listen. There’s been some things said to me from Canadians that I guess I respect, because of the passion that you have for your country, which I hope you understand that I was showing the same for mine. You booed my country. Now, I heard from a lot of Canadians.

During the national anthem, obviously the Rogers Centre, overwhelming boo. I mean, very loud boo. First reaction whenever the national anthem starts up there was for some of these Canadians just to start booing and I’m like, ‘What?’ Okay. My entire life, my first reaction when somebody boos the national anthem is, f**k you.”

GET ‘EM PAT.

McAfee continued to explain his reaction and elaborate on his connection to the United States, saying that he’s grateful to call America home. He made sure to point out that the “American Dream” is alive and well, and how that was one of the many reasons why he took offense to Canada booing “The Star Spangled Banner” at the WWE event:

“I’m very thankful that I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in these United States of America. I’m very proud that I am from the United States of America. And is everything perfect? Absolutely not. But my dad went from being a truck driver to a millionaire because he taught his son a work ethic and that anything is possible on this land here in the United States. Now, I know that we’re not the only country that has that happen, but in my life, that is the case.

I’ve also moved out here to Indiana and got to meet a lot of military members. I’ve been to a lot of bases. I know Gold Star families. I know people that have been affected for fighting for our country that really see the national anthem as like, ‘Hey, this our sh*t.’ So any time I’ve ever heard somebody boo our national anthem, my natural reaction is, ‘Let’s fight.’ That is my natural reaction.”

I’d say that’s most of America’s reaction.

The best part about it all is that Pat McAfee didn’t back down, nor did he apologize. He simply viewed his “terrible country” comment as payback for the disrespect that Canadians showed the Stars and Stripes. And he also refused to get into the weeds about what President Trump or Prime Minister Trudeau has said:

“Now, a lot of Canadians have told me, ‘Why don’t you do a little investigating on why we’re booing. Did you hear what your president said?’ Okay, listen, I understand there’s political differences at the current moment between us and Canada.

But I feel like any time I think of Canada, I don’t think of what Justin Trudeau does. I don’t think immediately of Justin Trudeau’s decisions. I don’t think immediately of what Canada is doing in the political sphere.

I think of the people of Canada. I understand, now, from the Canadians, that they have a lot more passion for their country than I could have ever imagined. A lot of terrible things have been said about me, and I understand it. You boo my country, I called your country terrible, let’s shake hands.”

You can hear Pat McAfee’s full statement on his ongoing feud with Canada in the video below:

I'm very proud and thankful that I'm from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States of America..

Canadians have a lot of passion for their country and I understand it..

You booed our country and I said you're terrible..

Let's shake hands and move along #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/pG4mvl9jVi

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 3, 2025