For decades, Canadians have been a fixture in the sun-soaked streets of Florida, the bustling casinos of Las Vegas, and the serene neighborhoods of Arizona. But in 2025, a chill has swept through the once-warm relationship between Canada and its southern neighbor, sending shockwaves through the American tourism and real estate industries. The culprit? A potent mix of political tensions, economic headwinds, and a growing sense of Canadian disillusionment with the United States under President Donald Trump.
It all began in February 2025, when President Trump reignited a trade war with Canada and made inflammatory remarks about turning the country into America’s “51st state.” As reported by National Post, these comments struck a nerve north of the border, prompting many Canadians to vote with their wallets. Dennis Murphy, a Canadian traveler, summed up the sentiment: “We kind of plan on spending as little of our money in the U.S., based on everything that happened.” Murphy and his wife canceled a planned Las Vegas trip after witnessing a tense Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which ended with Trump berating his guest. “There’s no way that we’re going to put any of our money into their economy,” Murphy said.
Murphy’s family isn’t alone. Hard data from Statistics Canada shows that Canadian trips by car to the United States plummeted by nearly 36% in July 2025 compared to the same month in 2024. Air travel followed suit, dropping by more than 16%. Border crossings into Washington State—a popular entry point for Canadian road trippers—saw a 29% decline in vehicle traffic in September 2025 compared to the previous year, with similar downturns in other months. The trend is mirrored in other U.S. hotspots: Florida, Louisiana, California, and Nevada all report steep drops in Canadian visitors this year.
Las Vegas, once a magnet for Canadian tourists, has been especially hard hit. According to local data cited by National Post, the number of Canadians flying into Harry Reid International Airport via Air Canada and Westjet fell by nearly a third in June 2025 compared to June 2024. Flair Airlines, another popular carrier, saw its Canadian passenger count to Vegas nosedive by 62%. Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley lamented, “We have a rather large market with the Canadians. It’s gone from, you know, a faucet to a drip.” In California, the official state tourism organization, Visit California, projects Canadian visitation to be down by 19% and spending by 17% in 2025 compared to last year.
Louisiana, too, is feeling the pinch. Lt.-Gov. Billy Nungesser told National Post, “Canada is the largest international market for visitors to the state, and the state is noticing a drop in its tourism numbers from Canada.” Nungesser, a Republican, recently traveled to Canada to woo back tourists, even handing out tabasco ice cream in train stations. But he acknowledged the challenge, noting that many Canadians told him they won’t return until Trump apologizes or leaves office. “I don’t want the comments — the stupid comments — of a president and the tariffs to destroy those friendships,” he said. Asked if he thought the president would apologize, Nungesser replied, “Not a chance in hell.”
These political rifts have also left their mark on the real estate market, particularly in Arizona. According to The Globe and Mail, homes registered to Canadian mailing addresses in the Phoenix area made up only 0.27% of buyers in the past 12 months—down from an average of 1.5% since 2007 and a staggering 43% drop from the previous year. “Things have changed for sure. People who have been coming down for a number of years have decided this is a good time to exit, whether it’s for a political reason or a financial reason,” said Miles Zimbaluk, a Canadian real estate specialist in Arizona. “Now, pretty much everybody we talk to is selling.”
The exodus is reflected in travel data as well. Phoenix Sky Harbor airport saw a 12% decline in available commercial carrier seats from Canada compared to the previous year. And while some Canadians are moving money and investments to the U.S.—drawn by lower taxes or better economic prospects—many are pulling back, especially from vacation homeownership. “The people that I talk to believe a whole lot more in the future of the U.S. economy compared to the Canadian, and that’s why they’re moving money down here,” said Eddie Läck, a former NHL goaltender turned Arizona real estate agent. Yet, even he noted that some snowbirds are reconsidering selling, especially as winter approaches.
Despite the widespread boycott, there’s one notable exception: Florida. As reported by The Logic and Forbes, Canadian snowbirds—those who typically spend winters in the Sunshine State—are bucking the trend. While overall Canadian travel to the U.S. is down sharply, with air travel to the U.S. down 26% and automobile trips down 37% in July 2025 compared to July 2024, snowbirds are booking Florida stays earlier than ever and paying up to 70% more than last year. Stephen Fine, president of Snowbird Advisor, told The Logic, “Snowbirds are more tied to the U.S. than other travelers.” Many own property in Florida and are reluctant to let their winter homes sit empty. In 2023, Canadians represented 17% of international homebuyers in Florida, investing $1.3 billion, according to Florida Realtors.
Still, even Florida isn’t immune to the broader downturn. Visit Florida’s data indicates that Canadian visitation was down 16.9% in the first quarter of 2025 and 20% in the second quarter. Richard Clavet, who owns hotels catering to Quebec snowbirds, told The Logic that reservations for the upcoming winter are about 50% lower than usual. “In Canada, there’s peer pressure. It’s a bad thing to go spend your money in the U.S.A. because Mr. Trump is so bad,” Clavet explained.
Surveys underscore the depth of Canadian discontent. A Longwoods International poll in April found that 60% of Canadians said current U.S. policies, trade practices, and political statements made them less likely to travel to America in the next year. Over a third had canceled plans to visit the U.S. in 2025. Pew Research Center found that 64% of Canadians have an unfavorable view of the U.S., and Gallup reported that 85% disapproved of America’s leadership. Meanwhile, a Leger survey revealed that two-thirds of Canadians had reduced their purchases of American products.
As American tourism boards and business owners scramble to adapt—some lobbying Congress to extend visa-free stays for Canadian snowbirds, others launching charm offensives in Canadian cities—the question remains: will the rift heal, or will the “Trump slump” continue to cast a shadow over cross-border travel and commerce?
For now, the numbers don’t lie: political and economic turbulence has put a serious dent in Canadian tourism and real estate in the United States. The coming winter will reveal whether the enduring pull of the southern sun is enough to thaw frosty relations, or if Canadians will keep their distance until the political climate warms.
