In a hopeful sign the United States' reputation on the global stage has improved since the departure of Donald Trump from office, President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister recently made a friendly bet on the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Trudeau, of course, is rooting hard for the Montreal Canadiens.
Biden put his hope behind the Tampa Bay Lightning.
You’re on pal. #GoBolts https://t.co/jOhA7IB2bE— President Biden (@President Biden) 1624928517.0
Biden's and Trudeau's wager—the stakes of which remain unknown—are hardly the first friendly bet to be shared between U.S. and Canada leaders.
Barack Obama famously had to fork over two cases of beer to former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper when Obama lost two separate hockey wagers.
The contest between Biden and Trudeau remains up in the air, as the best of seven series between Montreal and Tampa Bay is still underway.
As it stands now, though, Biden has one game to the good. Tampa Bay defeated Montreal 5-1 in the first game of the series.
People who saw the wager on Twitter, however, weren't so interested in the event itself.
Instead, they focused on the stakes of the bet, sharing all sorts of ideas.
@POTUS If Canada wins, we have to adopt their healthcare system. 🥶— Skititlez (@Skititlez) 1624928633.0
@JustinTrudeau @POTUS Please! If you win @POTUS will give you Texas!!! Please take them, even if you lose, WE STILL WIN!— PsyD/Psychotherapist/LPC-S (@PsyD/Psychotherapist/LPC-S) 1624933053.0
@POTUS If the Canadians win, US gives Canada Alaska. If US wins, US gives Canada Alaska, Texas and Florida...— Richard Manso (@Richard Manso) 1624929834.0
And Trump, of course, came up a lot.
@JustinTrudeau @POTUS If Montreal wins the US will send you Trump— Rich Murphy (@Rich Murphy) 1624928549.0
@POTUS Its nice to see a friendly wager over sports being made by the leader of the United States and Canada. This… https://t.co/VzMgLRxZub— Chrissi Nielsen (@Chrissi Nielsen) 1624929461.0
@TBLightning @POTUS If Tampa Bey Lightning wins Canada gets Trump and Cruz— Edward-wear-a-mask Louise "BLM" (@Edward-wear-a-mask Louise "BLM") 1624940678.0
@POTUS How bout the loser gets to put Trump in jail?— Brian Guest (@Brian Guest) 1624929935.0
@POTUS For a moment I had a flashback to 2020 and thought, that guy has no knowledge of sports, especially hockey!… https://t.co/oinpeF57RO— Captain America's shieldmaiden (@Captain America's shieldmaiden) 1624929394.0
With the possibility of plenty more games to go in the best of 7 series, we'll have to wait and see what the actual wager turns out to be.
If the USA wins, maybe we'll get poutine and ployes and if Canada wins they'll get cornbread and BBQ?
What would you exchange?