A New Trend by American Travelers Is Sparking Frustration in Canada
Some American tourists abroad have begun trying out a controversial tactic: pretending to be Canadian themselves. By adding maple leaf patches to their bags or clothing, they hope to pass as locals, but the trend is leaving many Canadians less than impressed.
The aim is to secure smoother treatment in airports, hostels, and restaurants where anti-American sentiment feels strong. This practice, called “flag jacking,” has recently resurfaced with renewed visibility. While some Americans believe it makes their journeys easier, the reaction across Canada has been overwhelmingly negative.
What Flag Jacking Involves
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Flag jacking describes travelers using another nation’s flag to disguise their identity. For Americans, it often means sewing a Canadian maple leaf patch onto luggage, hats, or jackets to signal that they come from Canada. The idea dates back decades but gained fresh attention during the early 2000s when U.S. foreign policy created resentment abroad. A 2005 episode of The Simpsons even satirized the practice.
Today, flag jacking has returned because of renewed political disputes under Trump, combined with travelers’ anxieties about how they are perceived overseas. The flag becomes a tool for deflection rather than pride.
Canadians traditionally used their own flag abroad to avoid being mistaken for Americans. Now, they find themselves irritated that outsiders are treating this same national symbol as a cover story. What once served as a mark of distinction has become an uncomfortable point of contention between neighbors.
Canadian Nationalism and Political Context
Canada’s reaction to flag jacking is shaped by more than just travel etiquette. In recent years, Trump reignited disputes with Canada, such as imposing tariffs and openly ridiculing former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
These statements pushed many Canadians to embrace their national identity with renewed intensity. Political scientists describe this as “collective effervescence,” when outside threats create stronger emotional unity. Symbols like the flag and anthem gained more prominence as expressions of pride and resistance.
Trudeau himself emphasized the divide in a CNN interview and said that Canadians often define themselves by not being American. Within this climate, Americans borrowing the maple leaf feels less like an innocent shortcut and more like a violation of identity. It is seen as arrogance layered on top of a political insult. That context explains why the trend has stirred stronger emotions than in the past.
Online Backlash and Public Commentary
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Online discussions reflect a wide range of Canadian frustration with the practice. Some describe flag jacking as cultural theft and call it fraudulent and arrogant. While others complain that it risks damaging Canada’s hard-earned reputation for politeness and neutrality abroad.
Tod Maffin, a Canadian cultural commentator, delivered one of the sharpest critiques. In a viral video, he mocked the idea of Americans “cosplaying a Canadian” and reminded viewers that Canada is not an invisibility cloak.
His barbed humor resonated widely, with more than 100,000 views across platforms. Social media threads echo his point and note that even progressive Americans who claim they did not vote for Trump are still relying on another country’s identity for convenience.
On Reddit, Canadians shared personal stories of spotting impostors during backpacking trips and hostels in Europe. The comments underline the widespread irritation at the tactic, even among those who normally take pride in their nation’s friendly image.