Americans are pretending to be Canadian while traveling. Canadians don’t like it. - The Boston Globe

Americans Pretending to Be Canadian While Traveling

When global opinion turns against America, many U.S. travelers adopt a Canadian identity to avoid negative reactions abroad. A Canadian radio host described this as a predictable pattern:

“It’s like clockwork. The world gets mad at America, and Americans go, ‘Oh no, quick! To the maple leaves!’”

This phenomenon, known as flag-jacking, dates back decades. Travelers display Canadian flags or patches on their luggage and clothing to blend in as Canadians, hoping to escape criticism or hostility while abroad.

History of Flag-Jacking

The practice originated during the Vietnam War when young American backpackers sewed Canadian flag patches onto their gear while hitchhiking across Europe. It resurfaced prominently in the 1990s and early 2000s amid rising unpopularity of U.S. foreign policies, such as during the Gulf War and the Iraq War in 2003.

Pop Culture Reference

Flag-jacking even featured in a 2005 episode of The Simpsons, where Lisa explains the tactic to her brother Bart upon arriving in Italy:

“Well, some people in Europe have the impression that America has made some stupid choices in the past, oh, five years. So, for the next week, I’m from Canada.”

Current Trends

With current global dissatisfaction toward the Trump administration, many Americans planning international travel have again turned to online stores to purchase red maple leaf stickers and patches for their belongings.

Author's Summary

This longtime tactic reflects American travelers’ efforts to avoid backlash overseas by posing as Canadians during politically sensitive periods.

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The Boston Globe The Boston Globe — 2025-11-07

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