Pat McAfee, who referred to Canada as a “terrible country” during WWE’s Elimination Chamber event in Toronto on Saturday night, continued to express his views about the nation on Monday. His comments came after the U.S. national anthem was booed, a reaction that has become increasingly common at sporting events, particularly following remarks made by former President Donald Trump regarding Canada as the “51st state.”
During the pay-per-view broadcast, McAfee stated, “This is the most stacked Elimination Chamber that the WWE has ever had. Kinda sucks that it’s in the terrible country of Canada that booed our national anthem to start this entire thing.”
Following the backlash, McAfee addressed the criticism on “The Pat McAfee Show,” acknowledging the negative comments directed at him but standing firm in his beliefs. “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,” he explained. “You booed my country.”
He noted that the Rogers Centre was particularly loud with boos during the anthem, adding, “I understand, now, from the Canadians that they have a lot more passion for their country than I could have imagined. A lot of terrible things have been said about me, and I understand it. I didn’t say Canadians were terrible. I said your country was. You booed us. I said you were terrible. Let’s shake hands and move along. I still love Canadians… I hope it gets settled.”
In a follow-up post on X, McAfee reiterated his pride in being from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and acknowledged the passion Canadians have for their country. “You booed our country and I said you’re terrible,” he wrote.
The booing incident first gained attention during the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off, where Team USA faced Team Canada in Montreal, coinciding with President Trump’s threats of heavy tariffs on Canadian goods and his comments about Canada being the “51st state.” This sparked a public feud that extended into a hockey rivalry among fans and players.