Yes, Americans Can Still Visit Canada (With Some Caveats)

I’ve heard a lot of Americans question whether they should visit Canada in 2025, during Trump’s trade wars and annexation threats. After all, Canadians are avoiding the USA. Should it work the same in reverse?

Canadians are avoiding the US due to how their government is treating us (and friends like Denmark and Mexico), plus fear about being detained or mistreated by emboldened border guards. None of those apply to visiting Canada.

The real concern is feeling personally unwelcome or experiencing rudeness. Canadians are pretty angry so this isn’t completely unfounded, but most are not going to treat you badly just for being American. You’d have to say or do something.

First, don’t make “51st state” jokes. It’s easier to laugh about an erratic leader threatening other countries’ sovereignty when it’s not your country being threatened. It’s not the exact same, but imagine visiting NYC in 2001 and making 9/11 jokes.

Second, and maybe less obviously, don’t try to downplay Trump’s win or deflect responsibility from the country. “The government isn’t the same as the people” is frustrating when the people just elected the government. “He only won narrowly” isn’t reassuring when we’re talking about an insurrectionist who was obviously unqualified and dangerous. He should have lost in a historic landslide.

If the topic comes up, you don’t need to personally apologize or anything. Just don’t treat it as a joke or a normal policy question (“you guys would vote Democrat, right?”). Understand that it’s beyond the pale and still pretty shocking for us.

I’m taking for granted that anyone asking this question and wanting to visit Canada doesn’t support Trump and what he’s doing to us. If you do then yeah, go away.

But if you oppose it, and you give some thought and care to how it’s come across here, feel free to visit. It’s actually a good way to help our economy and show support. I’m not saying it’s impossible that someone will be an ass about it but it’s unlikely. Most Canadians have American friends, so even though we’re disappointed in America in a general sense, we know you can’t pin that or take it out on every single American.