Ontario Premier Doug Ford is standing up for Wayne Gretzky as the hockey legend continues to endure attacks for associating with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Great One has come under fire in recent months for his support and friendship with Trump, who has imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian imports.
Gretzky has long been a friend of the president, visiting Trump’s 2024 election night party and his inauguration ceremony in January.
Because of his relationship with Trump, Gretzky has faced outrage from some political pundits, claiming that Gretzky had neglected his Canadian heritage in his support for the American president.
However, Ford is defending Gretzky from those attacks, claiming to have spoken to Gretzky recently and reaffirming his patriotism for Canada.
“He’s the most patriotic Canadian there is anywhere on the planet,” said Ford.
Ford said that he admires Gretzky for keeping his Canadian citizenship even as a professional athlete who was given the opportunity to become an American, and that he recently spoke with an emotional Gretzky “choked up” about what has come of the trade conflict.
“Y’know I talked to Wayne the other day and he was so choked up talking to me. Y’know he is a patriot, he loves Canada, he never gave up his Canadian passport. So y’know folks, give the guy a break, just give him a break. He loves Canada.”
The controversy surrounding Gretzky has Canadians divided on the hockey legend’s conduct as of late, split on whether Gretzky’s friendship with Trump compromises his loyalty to Canada and if he should be obligated to denounce the president.
At the NHL’s 4 Nations Face Off tournament final in Boston, Gretzky was named the honourary captain for Team Canada. However, some observers pointed out that the United States’ team captain Mike Eurizone wore his team’s jersey while Gretzky instead opted for a business suit.
NDP MP Charlie Angus said that Gretzky should be “ashamed of himself” after Trump jokingly suggested that Gretzky run for prime minister of Canada.
“When Donald Trump announced that he wanted to run Wayne Gretzky as this puppet candidate, I thought that’s what [Russian President] Putin does,” said Angus.
In the lead up to his January inauguration, Trump suggested that Gretzky run for prime minister or “governor” or Canada, claiming he would win easily.
Others make a similar point to Ford, saying that Gretzky is a patriot and that the debate surrounding his patriotism is silly and unproductive.