Rufus Wainwright Alters O Canada Lyrics at World Series to Protest Trump

Canadian-American musician Rufus Wainwright altered the lyrics of "O Canada" during his performance at Game 5 of the World Series, changing "in all of us command" to "that only us command" as a subtle protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's comments about making Canada the 51st state. This tweak echoed a similar change made earlier by Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk at a hockey game earlier in 2025. Wainwright also adjusted the French version of the anthem, omitting and altering certain words to emphasize Canadian sovereignty. The performance took place at Dodger Stadium before the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, pushing the series to Game 6 in Toronto. This form of lyrical protest has been part of a broader trend, with other artists like JP Saxe and Jully Black also modifying anthem lyrics in recent sports events. Wainwright’s bilingual rendition of the anthem is notable for its political message, reaffirming Canadian independence amid ongoing tensions with the U.S. administration.