Americans Pretend to Be Canadian While Traveling
When global sentiment turns against the United States, some American travelers try blending in by posing as Canadians. The trend, known as "flag-jacking," resurfaces whenever U.S. politics becomes unpopular abroad.
“It’s like clockwork. The world gets mad at America, and Americans go, ‘Oh no, quick! To the maple leaves!’” — a Canadian radio host
Flag-jacking involves Americans placing Canadian symbols such as the maple leaf flag on their backpacks, luggage, or jackets to deflect negative attention overseas. This habit began during the Vietnam War, when young travelers hitchhiking through Europe adopted the maple leaf as a sign of neutrality.
The practice surged again during the Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War, reflecting growing discomfort with American foreign policy at those times. Pop culture even took note: in a 2005 episode of The Simpsons, Lisa Simpson quips to Bart,
“Some people in Europe have the impression that America has made some stupid choices in the past five years… So, for the next week, I’m from Canada.”
Today, with the Trump administration facing criticism abroad, Americans are once again purchasing maple leaf patches and stickers before boarding international flights, hoping to be perceived as friendlier travelers.
Author’s Summary
As global opinions shift, some Americans disguise themselves as Canadians while traveling to avoid backlash—a practice dating back to the Vietnam era and now resurfacing in modern politics.