Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky opened up about recent attacks he’s faced due to his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump in a recent interview.
While on the Ben Mulroney Show, Gretzky said he was “proud to be Canadian”, emphasizing that his ties to US President Donald Trump do not define his national loyalty, despite criticism from the Liberals and legacy media.
Gretzky also said, “The prime minister and the president don’t tell us how to play hockey. We don’t tell them how to do politics, right?”
He dismissed the notion that hockey players are political, framing locker room discussions as apolitical, usually revolving around sports, not governance.
Despite his legacy as one of the greatest Canadian hockey players in history, hence dubbed “the Great One” by fans, Gretzky has been maligned by the legacy media and pundits for his personal relationships.
While living in the United States, he and his wife attended Trump’s recent inauguration, and he was photographed at a victory party wearing a MAGA hat.
Trump’s tariffs and annexation remarks implying Canada could become the “51st state” have galvanized a “Team Canada” approach from the Liberals at the expense of anybody who doesn’t fall in line behind their message.
Trump has even referred to Gretzky as a friend and has jokingly suggested he would be the next governor of the Canadian state.
Due to the political backlash his statue outside Edmonton’s Rogers Place has even been vandalized.
Gretzky still holds an esteemed place in hockey history, though his all-time goal-scoring record was recently surpassed by Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin he remains a national icon in Canada after leading the Edmonton Oilers to four Stanley Cup victories.