Residents in the resort town of Myrtle Beach, located in deep red South Carolina, are worried their annual Can-Am Days, aimed at drawing Canadians to town during its 9-day run, are worried they will take a financial hit this year.
All because of Donald Trump.
According to a report from the New York Times, the Republican president's war on Canada, that has ranged from tariff threats to suggesting the U.S. should annex its northern neighbor and make it the 51st state, has damaged relations with the Canadian populace that Myrtle Beach's locals have come to depend upon during the off-season.
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According to the Times' Richard Fausset, things have gotten "complicated and weird" in the town where the Myrtle Beach Welcome Center is decked out to greet Canadian visitors at the same time Trump is celebrated "all over the Myrtle Beach T-shirt shops, his famous fist pump as popular as sea gulls and sunsets."
The report states, some Canadians "have canceled plans to visit conservative Myrtle Beach, part of a broader grass-roots travel boycott that is threatening to put a dent in the $20.5 billion that Canadian visitors spend in the United States each year."
Amy Gleiser, 47, from Ontario, stated her cancellation, which included losing her condo deposit, is because of Trump by telling the Times, "It’s bullying.That’s how we feel.”
The report adds, "No one in Myrtle Beach is quite sure what the bad blood means for their community, which offers a less stuffy alternative to Hilton Head Island, down the coast," before adding, "On Monday morning, a few dozen Canadians, most of them retirees, had stopped by the visitors center for the kickoff party. Mayor Brenda Bethune, in a short speech, tried to put some distance between Myrtle Beach and the White House — a challenge given Mr. Trump’s lopsided November victory in Horry County, which includes the city."
"I know there is a lot of tension right now, and we can’t help that, on those levels,” she told the small crowd.
Arthur and Kathy Jadischke of Mississauga, Ontario, stated they were cutting their trip short and may not return, stating, "If this stuff keeps happening, I can’t see myself coming. Because I’d be ashamed.”
Former city councilman Wayne Gray, a Myrtle Beach native admitted Can-Am Days have lost their luster, telling the Times, "I think we’re all very appreciative of the Canadian visitors who come here. But the Canadian American Days are just not as impactful as they once were.”
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