Wayne Gretzky breaks silence on political backlash: ‘I’m a Canadian for life’

For the first time, Wayne Gretzky addressed recent criticism he has received — particularly in his native Canada — for his ties to U.S. President Donald Trump.

“People are going to say and believe what they want,” Gretzky said on an episode of the “100% Hockey” podcast co-hosted by Darren Millard and John Shannon released on Wednesday. “The bottom line is, I know in my heart I’m Canadian, I’ve stayed Canadian and I’m a Canadian for life.”

Gretzky particularly drew ire this year for his personal ties to Trump during the 4 Nations Face-Off, an international tournament that featured two high-profile games between Canada and the U.S.

Gretzky had not publicly addressed what, for him, has been a rare adverse reaction in Canada. Saying in the podcast that he “had a lot of support,” Gretzky did not specifically discuss his political views or his relationship with Trump, but said the booing he received when he appeared at the 4 Nations Face-Off final likely would have bothered his late father, Walter.

“You’ve got to take the good with the bad,” Gretzky said. “I’m glad he didn’t have to see it.”

Gretzky was pictured, along with his family, attending a party at the Trump-owned The Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla, on the night of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Gretzky and his wife, Janet, attended Trump’s second presidential inauguration in January.

Trump has drawn the ire of the Canadian government and people by derisively suggesting that the country become the 51st state.

Introduced as Canada’s honorary captain before the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game against the U.S. in February, Gretzky was booed by a majority of fans inside Boston’s TD Garden. He did not wear a Team Canada jersey.

Still, Gretzky said on the podcast, “I had a lot of support.” That included a phone call from Justin Trudeau, who was then Canada’s prime minister.

“It was a wonderful phone call that he reached out,” Gretzky said. “He gave me a great line. He said, ‘I’m giving you a hug call.’ I said, ‘OK, I needed it right now.’ ”

Gretzky, the NHL’s all-time leading scorer and Hockey Hall of Famer, is a Companion in the Order of Canada, where he was born and played for 10 seasons as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. He is widely considered hockey’s greatest player, and certainly is viewed as the sport’s most well-known ambassador.

Gretzky said in the podcast that he understood why he was criticized in Canada and booed at the 4 Nations Face-Off final. He described Canadians as “proud,” but noted that despite finishing his NHL career with three U.S.-based franchises after a trade to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988 and since residing in the U.S., “I never became an American citizen.”

“I’m Canadian,” Gretzky said. “I can’t vote in the U.S. because I live in the U.S. and I’m Canadian. I can’t vote in Canada because I don’t live in Canada.

“I’m not into politics. And so I can’t stop the prime minister from saying something. I can’t stop the president from saying something. I just kind of like, well, I’m just a hockey player, simple as that.”