{"id":283461,"date":"2025-11-14T22:43:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T22:43:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/283461\/"},"modified":"2025-11-14T22:43:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T22:43:12","slug":"wayne-gretzky-asserts-im-canadian-as-he-addresses-trump-related-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/283461\/","title":{"rendered":"Wayne Gretzky asserts \u2018I\u2019m Canadian\u2019 as he addresses Trump-related backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky<\/a> is speaking out about his Canadian roots, months after he was the target of intense scrutiny and criticism over his ties to U.S. President Donald Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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During a recent episode<\/a> of the 100% Hockey With Millard & Shannon podcast, Gretzky, 64, was asked if he understands the disapproval he\u2019s received for \u201cnot defending the country about the 51st state<\/a> stuff that Donald Trump said.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, sure, because Canadians are proud but here\u2019s the two factors. I don\u2019t know how many people move to the U.S., whether it\u2019s business or entertainment or hockey, and I don\u2019t know the exact number, but I would tell you that over 90 per cent of them become American citizens,\u201d Gretzky said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never became an American citizen. I\u2019m Canadian. I can\u2019t vote in the U.S. because I live in the U.S. and I\u2019m Canadian,\u201d he continued. \u201cI can\u2019t vote in Canada because I don\u2019t live in Canada.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m not into politics.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gretzky, who has been criticized in Canada for supporting Trump, including attending his election night party<\/a> and inauguration, said he can\u2019t stop \u201cthe prime minister for saying something\u201d just as much as he can\u2019t stop \u201cthe president for saying something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just a hockey player. Simple as that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Host John Shannon asked Gretzky if he understands that many Canadians want to hear from him when it comes to the topic of politics.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, sure, but as I said to the prime minister, he wouldn\u2019t tell me how to play hockey. I\u2019m not going to tell him what to do in politics. Simple as that,\u201d Gretzky replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand. Canadians are proud,\u201d Gretzky added, before explaining that he told former prime minister Justin Trudeau<\/a> that Canada should \u201cmake United States the 12th province.\u201d<\/p>\n

In February, Gretzky was introduced as the honorary Canadian team captain during the 4 Nations Face-Off<\/a> hockey final and received boos from fans of Team Canada<\/a> after he was seen giving a thumbs-up to the American players and not really acknowledging the Canadian team in front of the cameras.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWayne Gretzky draws mixed reaction during appearance at 4 Nations Final\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Fans also noticed that, unlike his honorary U.S. captain counterpart Mike Eruizone, Gretzky failed to wear a Canada jersey ahead of the matchup, sticking with a blue suit, vest and tie instead.<\/p>\n

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\u201cPeople are going to say and believe what they want, right?\u201d Gretzky said during his podcast appearance on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\"For<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tGet breaking National news<\/p>\n

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.<\/p>\n

\u201cBottom line is: I know in my heart I\u2019m Canadian, stayed Canadian and Canadian citizen for life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gretzky also revealed that he had a lot of support in the aftermath of the criticism.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt probably would hurt my dad more, so I\u2019m glad that he didn\u2019t have to see it,\u201d Gretzky added, referring to his late father, Walter.<\/p>\n

After Gretzky was booed in February, he said he received a phone call from Trudeau.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a wonderful phone call,\u201d Gretzky said. \u201cHe reached out and he gave me a great line. He said, \u2018I\u2019m giving you a hug call.\u2019 I said, \u2018OK, I needed it right now.’\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump also showed his support<\/a> for Gretzky following the backlash over Gretzky\u2019s perceived slights to Canada<\/a>\u00a0at the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey final.<\/p>\n

In a post on Truth Social, the president said he\u2019s concerned about Canadians turning on \u201cthe Great One\u201d over their friendship.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWayne is my friend, and he wants to make me happy, and is therefore somewhat \u2018low key\u2019 about Canada remaining a separate Country, rather than becoming a cherished and beautiful 51st State, paying much Lower Taxes, a Free and Powerful Military, NO TARIFFS, and having a Booming Economy,\u201d Trump posted in late February.<\/p>\n

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Trump wrote he would back down on his suggestions that Gretzky become Canada\u2019s \u201cgovernor\u201d \u2014 an idea he\u2019s floated<\/a> several times, both before and after Trudeau announced his plan to resign as prime minister.<\/p>\n

\u201cWayne and Janet, his wonderful wife, love Canada, and they should only support Canada, and whatever else makes the Canadian People, and Governor Justin Trudeau, happy. He\u2019s the Greatest Canadian of them all, and I am therefore making him a \u2018free agent,\u2019 because I don\u2019t want anyone in Canada to say anything bad about him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wayne Gretzky is a fantastic guy! They call him, \u201cThe Great One,\u201d and he is. He could run for any political office in Canada, and win. Wayne is my friend, and he wants to make me happy, and is therefore somewhat \u201clow key\u201d about Canada remaining a separate Country, rather than\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 26, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Trump first revealed that he had asked Gretzky to become the \u201cgovernor of Canada\u201d following a Christmas Day visit late last year.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI just left Wayne Gretzky, \u2018The Great One\u2019 as he is known in ice-hockey circles,\u201d Trump posted on Truth Social<\/a> on Dec. 25.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said, \u2018Wayne, why don\u2019t you run for prime minister of Canada, soon to be known as the governor of Canada \u2014 you would win easily, you wouldn\u2019t even have to campaign.\u2019 He had no interest.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTrump reiterates call for Wayne Gretzky to run for Canadian prime minister\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Trump\u00a0reiterated the comments<\/a> two weeks later, telling reporters at Mar-a-Lago he had a plan for Trudeau\u2019s successor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was with Wayne Gretzky. I said, \u2018Wayne, would you like to be the governor of Canada?\u2019 I can\u2019t imagine anybody doing better than Wayne,\u201d Trump said at the time.<\/p>\n

\u2014 With files from Global News<\/p>\n

\n\t\t&copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.\t<\/p>\n