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Over the past several weeks, United States President Donald Trump has escalated his trade dispute with Canada, a conflict that has even seen him officially rename Lake Ontario as Lake America. Now, however, one NFL team appears to be making a statement of its own amid the president’s increasingly confrontational stance toward Canada. With the NFL season scheduled to get underway this week, the Buffalo Bills, who play their home games near Lake Ontario and have a significant following across the border, have announced that they will play the Canadian national anthem alongside the United States national anthem before their games. Trump’s War With Canada Last week, President Trump formally signed an executive order changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America as tensions between the United States and Canada continue over trade. The White House order directs federal references to the lake to use its new name. The order argues that “the deepest parts of the Lake’s waters lying within United States territory, the United States claims most of the Lake’s volume,” while also stating that the “Lake has long been an integral asset to American exploration, settlement, commerce, and defense.” Trump said he had “filed all the necessary papers, documents, everything else” required to officially carry out the name change. “We notified all of the various people that we have to notify. So we’ve done everything that you have to do, and this is official, effective immediately,” he said. When asked what message he hoped to send by changing the lake’s name, Trump said there was no specific message behind the decision. “No message. As you know, Canada has been ripping us off for a long time on trade,” Trump said. “They don’t pay for anything, and they want to be treated like a state, but they’re not a state.” The latest development comes after Trump previously suggested that Canada should join the United States and become the 51st state, a proposal that Canadian officials and the public have rejected. Bills to Play Canadian National Anthem This week, with the Buffalo Bills preparing to begin another NFL campaign, the team confirmed that it will play Canada’s national anthem, “O Canada,” alongside the United States national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” before home games. “The Bills have announced that both anthems will be played prior to the start of next Thursday night’s showdown with the Lions. It comes at a time when tensions are high between the respective governments over trade issues, but when the citizens of the two countries have little or no real animosity between them,” wrote Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “Canada has been our next-door neighbor for a very long time. And most Americans are wired to act neighborly. In this specific instance, the Bills are making a very neighborly gesture.” Florio noted that the Bills’ decision comes against the backdrop of Trump’s rhetoric and policies toward Canada, suggesting that the president could respond publicly. “Still, it’s just a matter of time before someone who once wanted to buy the Bills has something to say about this. In all caps. Perhaps with a dash of AI slop. Before thanking us for our attention to this matter,” Florio wrote, mocking Trump. ‘Incredibly idiotic’ Following the announcement, many took to social media to praise the Bills for the gesture. “Having relatives in Western New York and attended a few Bills games, there’s a Canadian segment to this fan base that should be acknowledged. Excellent gesture by the Bills, which I’m sure will not be misinterpreted at all by the members of the Orange cult,” wrote Brian Webber of the Jim Rome show. “A first-class gesture at an important time. Thanks, Bills!” wrote Greg Brady of “Toronto Today.” “Very cool,” wrote ESPN’s Jon Buccigross. “Bills adding Canadian anthem before home games. Feels long overdue, great addition,” wrote Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. Not everyone, however, was happy about the move. “There is ZERO reason the Buffalo Bills should sing the Canadian National Anthem at their home opener… The only acceptable reason to sing that anthem would be if they were playing a Canadian team, but they don’t play any Canadian teams unlike in the NBA, NHL, etc. Imagine a CFL team playing the United States National Anthem for a game. Canadians would be rightfully upset and confused. Incredibly idiotic decision by the Bills…” wrote Jon Root of OutKick. “Whoa! How not to read the room. The Canadian prime minister says his country and ours are ‘at war’ and the Bills respond with this? Did Canadian taxes build that stadium?” wrote prominent radio talk show host Rob Lonsberry.