Canadians are urging authorities to deliver a major blow to their southern neighbors—by banning Pornhub.
The Canadian-owned adult site pulls nearly 40% of its traffic from the U.S., according to its most recent annual report.
As trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada escalate, some north of the border are pushing for this bold move.
One of the voices behind the movement is Matthew Puzhitsky, who posted a now-viral video on Instagram calling for Pornhub to be blocked in the U.S.
In the clip, Puzhitsky jokingly referred to the idea as Canada’s secret “nuke,” calling it a ultimate “mic drop” moment.
Speaking to The New York Post, he added: “If Canada bans Pornhub in the States, we win the trade war. That’s it. There is no trade war.”
Following the video’s popularity, an online petition was launched urging Canadian authorities to take action. However, as of Saturday morning, it had gained little traction—securing just 52 signatures.
The X-rated pornography site, which is Canadian-owned, gathers nearly 40 percent of its traffic from the United States
Since the video was shared online, a petition calling for Canadian authorities to block Pornhub in the states was also published
The petition reads: “The ongoing tariff dispute between Canada and the United States has affected multiple sectors of the economy, and we’re proposing a fresh approach to addressing the issue.”
“This petition calls on the Canadian Federal Government to pass legislation that would block access to Pornhub’s services, specifically adult content streaming, within the United States.”
Marc Olimpo, from Toronto, launched the petition and shared with the outlet that Canadians are passionate about the trade war, saying, “That’s all anyone is talking about.”
Meanwhile, tens of millions of Americans are already blocked from accessing the site due to an ongoing battle over privacy laws.
Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo, has restricted users in 16 states from visiting the site in response to a new age-verification law.
The law, which began in 2023, mandates that users in these states provide state-approved identification—such as a passport or driver’s license—to prove they are over 18 before accessing adult content. This legislation was introduced in response to rising concerns about minors viewing inappropriate material online.
An image of adult film star Asa Akira is displayed at the Pornhub booth at the 2018 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on January 24, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada
But Pornhub and other critics argue that the age verification requirement violates user privacy and puts their personal data at risk.
The states where Pornhub is currently blocked include Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Indiana, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Florida.
Newly appointed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has already delivered a sharp rebuke to President Trump over the ongoing trade dispute.
The 59-year-old leader made it clear he plans to follow in former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s footsteps with public confrontations with the U.S. president.
In a speech to a lively crowd of Liberal party supporters, Carney accused Trump of “trying to weaken our economy.”
“Donald Trump, as we know, has imposed unjustified tariffs on what we build, sell, and how we make a living,” Carney said. “He’s attacking Canadian workers, families, and businesses. We cannot let him succeed. And we won’t.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney holds a press conference at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he meets with Mark Rutte, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the Oval Office
Trump has frequently expressed his desire to annex Canada, referring to Prime Minister Trudeau as “Governor Trudeau” and calling the nation America’s “51st state.”
On Wednesday, Canada retaliated with $21 billion in new tariffs aimed at U.S. imports, including computers and sports gear.
This marks the latest escalation in the increasingly bitter and costly trade war between Washington and Ottawa.
Canada yielded to Trump on Tuesday after he threatened a historically large “financial price” for the electricity tariff imposed on parts of the U.S.
In response, Ontario Premier Doug Ford reversed his stance, announcing the cancellation of a 25 percent tariff on Canadian electricity sent to northern states like Michigan, New York, and Minnesota.
After Canada backed down, Trump agreed not to increase tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50 percent, leaving them at the current 25 percent rate.
Trump’s trade war and his remarks about making Canada the 51st state have sparked outrage among Canadians, with many booing the U.S. national anthem at NHL and NBA games.
Some are canceling trips to the U.S., while others are avoiding American products when possible.
