Canada pushes back as Americans embrace 'flag-jacking' trend abroad

Canadian anger is rising over a travel trend in which some American tourists disguise their origins by displaying Canadian flags on backpacks or clothing abroad, a practice critics call flag-jacking. The wave of backlash intensified after CNN reported an incident in the Dominican Republic involving an Upstate New York woman and a confrontation described by the traveler as sparked by a Canadian couple. Chelsea Metzger, 33, said the exchange began in a bar and escalated, with Canadians allegedly accusing Americans of selfishness and blaming them for problems faced by Canada and others. Metzger recalled that the Canadian side of the dispute drew a crowd and that the exchange left her feeling unsettled and targeted.

In social media circles, the reaction quickly pivoted to public commentary about the tactic itself. A widely circulated video featuring Tod Maffin, a former Canadian public radio host, mocked the trend and drew more than 100,000 views. "Every time America breaks something overseas… suddenly you can’t swing a baguette in Europe without hitting a backpack with a fresh Canadian flag sewn on the back," he said in the clip. He added that when geopolitical tensions rise, Americans respond by reaching for a familiar symbol of the neighbor to the north, joking that the world’s response is predictable: "The world gets mad at America and Americans go ‘Oh no, quick! To the maple leaves!'"

"I mean it’s adorable — it’s also deeply unconvincing," Maffin continued. In the video, he argued that the Canadian flag is not a magic device that erases the origins of who is traveling. He also chided attempts to imitate Canadian dialects, joking that listeners can spot an impersonation by, for example, mispronouncing the second "t" in the city name Toronto. The clip has become a talking point among international observers and fellow travelers, prompting discussions about authenticity, national pride, and the ethics of using a flag as camouflage.

The CNN report on Metzger’s account helped propel the discussion from social media to broader media coverage, amplifying concerns about how flag usage abroad is interpreted by locals and by the travelers’ home countries. Metzger told CNN that a Canadian couple confronted her party with a stern accusation that America was selfish and ruining things for Canada and the world. The encounter, she said, left her feeling shaken and highlighted what observers describe as a cultural rift in which travelers use national symbols as a shield against scrutiny abroad.

Experts say the current flare-up is part of a longer-running pattern that has gained traction as anti-American sentiment grows overseas amid geopolitical tensions. Robert Schertzer, an associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto, said external threats tend to stimulate nationalist responses and described the moment as a case of collective effervescence—the spontaneous surge of emotion that can accompany national pride. "Canadian nationalism at its core has an element of anti-Americanism," Schertzer said. He explained that for some people feeling their national identity under pressure, an American pretending to be Canadian can provoke a strong emotional reaction.

Reddit threads dedicated to the topic reflected a mixed reception from Canadians. Some commenters argued that Americans have long borrowed goodwill by disguising themselves with Canadian symbols, suggesting that the practice has persisted for decades. Others described the trend as pathetic yet not worth a major response, while a few suggested the act could be seen as a lighthearted gesture that should be tolerated. A commenter said, "Americans have been stealing goodwill by pretending to be Canadian and giving Canadians bad reputations by still acting like Americans abroad for decades," while another added, "We’re not livid, it’s just kind of pathetic." A third contributor claimed, "If anything, we’re probably a bit flattered as it reaffirms our belief that we’re more well liked around the world than Americans."

The issue has connections to broader geopolitical dynamics that have shaped public sentiment in recent years. Flag-jacking is not a new phenomenon, but the current wave coincides with strains such as tariff disputes and concerns about foreign policy directions in the United States. Some experts argue that the trend reflects how nationalism can surface quickly in transnational spaces like tourism, airports, and border towns. In this context, the use of symbols that signal alignment with a country perceived as more favored abroad can become a flashpoint for local residents who feel a sense of collective national identity under threat.

Analysts caution that while flag-jacking may provoke emotional responses, it also raises questions about authenticity and the ethics of using national emblems to navigate social and legal environments abroad. Tourism researchers note that travelers frequently search for ways to avoid friction, but when an approach appears to instrumentalize national identity, it can backfire both for the individual and for public perception of a country. The intense online reaction, the CNN account, and the Canadian commentary underscore how a relatively small action—attaching a flag to a bag—can ripple into broader debates about nationalism, international relations, and the perception of a country’s values on the world stage.

As the discussion continues, observers say there is no simple solution or uniform response. Some travelers may see flag-jacking as a harmless, if misguided, attempt at humor or protection in crowded tourist spaces. Others view it as a sign of shifting loyalties and cultural signaling that may complicate relationships with hosts abroad. In the meantime, the conversation remains animated across social platforms, media reports, and academic inquiries, illustrating how a travel trend can illuminate the fault lines of global public opinion in an era of heightened nationalism.

For those who track cross-border attitudes, the episode offers a snapshot of how symbolic gestures, perceived fairness, and historical tensions can intersect in everyday moments on the road. As international travel resumes its post-pandemic vigor, the question remains: will flag-jacking fade as tensions ease, or will it endure as a persistent, if controversial, prism through which people view each other across borders?