Americans Pretend to Be Canadian Abroad
For decades, some Americans have disguised themselves as Canadians when traveling internationally to avoid negative perceptions tied to U.S. politics. This phenomenon is commonly known as "flag-jacking."
“It’s like clockwork. The world gets mad at America, and Americans go, ‘Oh no, quick! To the maple leaves!’”
— Canadian radio host
The practice dates back to the Vietnam War era, when young American travelers stitched Canadian flag patches onto their backpacks and clothing as they hitchhiked across Europe. It later resurfaced during the Gulf War and again around the 2003 Iraq War.
Pop culture has also captured the trend. In a 2005 episode of The Simpsons, Lisa Simpson explains the concept to her brother Bart while traveling in Italy:
“Some people in Europe think America has made some poor choices in the past few years... So, for the next week, I’m from Canada.”
Today, with criticism surrounding U.S. foreign policy and the Trump administration, many Americans once again buy Canadian flag patches and luggage stickers in hopes of blending in abroad.
Author’s Summary
American travelers periodically adopt Canadian symbols to dodge political backlash overseas, a habit that resurfaces whenever U.S. policies draw global disfavor.