Canadians Cancel U.S. Trips as Trump's Border Tactics and Trade Threats Fuel Backlash

A growing number of Canadians are cancelling travel plans to the United States, frustrated by President Donald Trump’s escalating rhetoric against Canada and concerns over heightened border scrutiny. Once planning a Caribbean cruise out of Houston, Calgary couple Diana and Rick Bellamy changed course, opting instead for a vacation along Mexico’s Pacific coast. Stories of Canadian travelers facing invasive phone searches and unexpected detentions at U.S. borders have left many reconsidering trips they once took without a second thought.

Trump’s repeated threats to Canada’s economy, including talk of making the country the 51st U.S. state, have fueled a sharp decline in cross-border travel. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, there were more than 910,000 fewer land crossings from Canada into the United States last month compared to March 2024—a 22 percent drop. Air Canada also reported a 10 percent decline in U.S.-bound flight bookings for the upcoming travel season. Trump dismissed the slump, attributing it to “a little nationalism” and downplaying its economic significance.

Tourism and academic groups in Canada have issued warnings about nonessential travel to the U.S., citing growing risks at border crossings. One notable incident involved Canadian entrepreneur Jasmine Mooney, who was detained for 12 days despite holding a valid U.S. work visa. British Columbia Premier David Eby said such episodes amplify Canadian fears about the unpredictability of Trump’s administration. Organizations representing Canadian university faculty even advised academics to reconsider U.S. travel, especially those critical of Trump.

The chilling effect has been felt across the travel industry. Agencies such as The Travel Group in Vancouver report a near-total collapse in U.S. bookings, with CEO McKenzie McMillan estimating a 90 percent drop since February. Even travelers with prepaid cruises are forfeiting deposits rather than risk a U.S. departure point like Fort Lauderdale. California Governor Gavin Newsom has launched a campaign to lure Canadians back, after noting a 12 percent year-over-year tourism decline in February.

The shift in Canadian attitudes toward the U.S. is not just a travel trend—it reflects deeper anxiety about deteriorating cross-border relations under Trump’s renewed leadership. For many Canadians, long-standing bonds of friendship with the U.S. are being tested by an atmosphere of distrust, uncertainty, and fear over what once seemed routine travel.