More Canadians avoid setting foot in the U.S., 'without even a connection or layover'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

March 17, 2025, 5:00 AM EDT


​​Michael Mortensen was looking forward to spending two weeks in Hawaii with his family last month, but his patriotism wouldn’t let him. The Vancouver-based development consultant and urban planner said he’s refusing to spend money south of the border while President Donald Trump “levies idiotic tariffs and rains chaos” on Americans and Canadians alike.

Mortensen, 58, had budgeted about $10,000 for accommodations, food and entertainment, but he’s now exploring alternative destinations that bypass the U.S. “without even a connection or layover.” He added that he wrote letters to Hawaii’s governor and the state’s tourism board explaining his decision.

Trump’s escalating trade war against America’s closest allies and trade partners isn’t just rattling stock markets and drawing retaliation from Beijing, Brussels and Ottawa. It’s also fueling a backlash among ordinary consumers across the northern border.

Two-thirds of Canadians said they’d significantly reduced their purchases of American products in stores (68%) and online (65%), and 59% said they’re less likely to visit the U.S. this year than in 2024, according to a survey this week by the Canadian market researcher Leger. Some 36% of Canadians with U.S. travel plans said they’d already canceled them.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/travel/canadian-tourism-boycotts-trump-rcna196136

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Link to Leger SURVEY - https://leger360.com/trump-tariff-tracker-mar-10/
Link to Leger REPORT (PDF) - https://leger360.com/trump_tariffs_tracking_march_10th-2025_can-us_en_final-v3-2/

[Scrivener7]

1. I fully support them in this.

[Irish_Dem]

2. They could be detained in the US, chained and tortured.

Better avoid the US at all costs.

[3Hotdogs]

16. Not "could." Did you read about the indigenous Canadian composer who was supposed to

appear at Carnegie Hall last week?

He flew into N.Y. and was immediately detained. He was offered to be put on a plane back to Toronto or wait in detention for an unknown number of days until an immigration judge could hear his case. He went back to Toronto.

In fairness to the immigration people at the airport, looking at his photo, he does look like he might have come from a latin 'merican country.


Why anyone from a foreign nation would want to vacation in the U.S. at this time, is beyond me. I don't even want to go anywhere and I live here.

[SSJVegeta]

18. Its hard to suss out some of the more legitimate cases (like this might be) from others.

The fact they let him go back pales in comparison to the other Canadian who is still being held in an unknown location after she came to apply for a visa and was denied. Going off memory but She told her family she was going to get a flight back and hasn't been heard from since. Supposedly was held in a facility in Arizona. Their lawyer is still trying to reach her and she has been gone from days. This truly is getting very scary.

[Bev54]

29. I believe she is finally home after a few weeks of

Absolute hell at the hands of ICE.

[SSJVegeta]

31. This is so nice to hear. If you have a link to the story I would really appreciate it!

Nobody should have to go through that nonesense!

[Bev54]

32. Here are a couple of links to Canadian news sites on her ordeal

https://globalnews.ca/news/11085168/canadian-woman-detained-ice-experience-jasmine-mooney/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-woman-detained-us-border-1.7484937

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/03/15/bc-woman-left-shackled-in-inhumane-conditions-in-u-s-detention-centres/

[SSJVegeta]

33. Thank you!!

[murielm99]

21. My daughter lives in Toronto.

She is married to a Canadian citizen. His mother was a naturalized Canadian citizen, born in China. I don't think his ethnicity shows, but why should that matter? He won't renew his passport, and he refuses to come to this country. He thinks he will be shot by one of our gun-crazed magats, or jailed. He may be overreacting, but who knows any more?

[Lovie777]

3. Effing madman would try to arrest them....................

shithole musk republicans are seriously thinking about taking Canada by force, including Panama Canal, Greenland.

These people are also considering Putin take Ukraine because the greediest want to take all of Ukraine's minerals while claiming is now a part of Russia.

Putin in fucking with Moldova. Moving the indigenous Palestines to another country so BiBi and shithole musk republicans can have beach resort in Gaza.

et al

[dem4decades]

4. I'm with him, I'm considering taking my money to Canada, but I worry being an American will be a detriment.

[Scrivener7]

7. Same.

[Joinfortmill]

9. My daughter & her family just returned from Italy.

Folks were very nice to them. They know who the menace is. It's President Musk

[SupportSanity]

11. I guess if you visit a country that's been through this they're more understanding.

[Juneboarder]

17. I'm headed to Europe next week...

Warsaw, plenty of towns in Italy, and Berlin. Poland and Germany should be really interesting, but I'm still practicing my Canadian accent, eh!

[dem4decades]

20. I just returned from Aruba, my friend from the island said, It's not just Trump that bothered her, but what really

bothered her was that so many Americans voted for him. People around the world get it, Trump is not the problem, Americans are the problem. They voted for him and are allowing him to do what he's doing. He's just the face of the ugliness.

[Write1]

28. Millions of dummies.

That is truly the problem. Millions and millions of total assholes live just below the 49th parallel. The further south you go the worse it gets.

[riversedge]

10. I and a friend had planned a trip around the Great Lakes-the Nothern trip and we still

plan on doing it. I have taken the southern route a few times already.
I have no problems spending my vacation money in Canada.

[IronLionZion]

15. My standard response is "Not all Americans, only half"

I was in Asia when that A-hole was inaugurated so I made sure to tell people I was against his policies and voted against him. Most people understand that MAGAts are probably not traveling to these other countries. It's mostly anti-Trump liberals.

[IbogaProject]

24. 1/4, half of the eligible don't vote

[Bev54]

30. Nope, American visitors are being welcomed to Canada

We understand the fight is with the administration not all the people. If however if you are wearing MAGA attire or spout MAGA bullshit, you might get some elbows up.

[riversedge]

5. I support Canada on this.

[multigraincracker]

6. This week I added a Canadian flag sticker to my van.

Every little thing helps.

[Joinfortmill]

8. It's gonna take a lot of pain to rid us of The Menace.

[bronxiteforever]

12. Trump is going to crash the economy soon

His “Wall Street” cabinet people are telling us. MAGA is going to get a full serving of the gruel they helped prepare. Unfortunately many of us will be right there with them.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

23. New tariff taxes Wednesday April 2nd

USA Today:

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump says he does not intend on creating exemptions on sweeping steel and aluminum tariffs and reaffirmed that additional duties will go into effect early next month.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One late Sunday, Trump said 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imported into the U.S., which went into effect last week, are here to stay. He added that reciprocal and sectorial tariffs will kick in on April 2, which he referred to as a "liberating day."

"They charge us, and we charge them," he said, referring to the reciprocal tariffs. "Then, in addition to that, on autos, on steel, on aluminum, we're going to have some additional tariffs."

[Harker]

13. Extra credit for the letters of explanation.

When one strategically withholds spending, taking the time and effort to explain why heightens the effect.

Those missing out won't necessarily notice the $10,000 not spent unless it's pointedly mentioned. Then they'll feel it.

[dchill]

14. I wouldn't come here, either.

[SamKnause]

19. Thank you Canadians.

[orangecrush]

22. Stay away

It's no longer safe here

[Write1]

25. Wouldn't consider it nowadays.

There are many reasons already listed as to why. I'm also actively encouraging Americans to do the same thing and stay home.

[róisín_dubh]

26. I'm a UK resident and US citizen.

I have zero interest whatsoever in coming back, but as it's my mum's 70th soon, I don't really have a choice. However, I will spend as few of my hard earned Great British Pounds in the US. I will not rent a car as I usually do, I won't buy gifts to bring back to people as normal and I plan to bring as much French wine as I can legally carry so I don't have to buy any.
My friends here are in a panic about me going, as I do work for Latin American asylum seekers in my spare time. I have been questioned at length (for someone with Global Entry) about my travels. I am not particularly nervous, I just don't fancy being around his minions.

I will, however, enjoy a few days in Ottawa for work. So there's that.

[pfitz59]

27. Cuba, Cancun, Tahiti.

Plenty of tropical destinations.