Maybe The Great One was taking some early shifts as “Governor of Canada.”
NHL great Wayne Gretzky and his wife, Janet, were among the attendees inside the rotunda at the U.S. Capitol building for Monday’s inauguration.
The official swearing-in ceremony of Donald Trump as the 47th U.S. president was held indoors due to the extreme cold, though we’re guessing Gretzky could have managed the outdoor environment given his career spent on ice.
“We are so very proud, We love America, We love Canada … God Bless everyone!” Janet Gretzky posted on her Instagram account along with of photo of her and Wayne outside the building at the eastern end of the National Mall.
The Gretzkys and Trumps have seemingly cozied up to one another in a relationship that grew increasingly more public in November after No. 99 and Co. attended a post-election victory party at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
“You did it, You deserved it, you earned every bit of it. The world is a better place to have you as our Leader, Proud to be an American. Thank you for being such a great friend. May God keep watching over you,” Janet wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post that featured photos from the event, including one of Trump and her husband conversing privately.
The families were also together on Christmas Day. At that time, Trump said on his Truth Social platform that he suggested Wayne seek to become Canada’s prime minister — “soon to be known as the governor of Canada” he wrote in a jab about the country becoming the 51st U.S. State. The Great One “had no interest,” he added.
The next day on Instagram, Janet posted one of her hubby’s most iconic quotes over a generic hockey image: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
Early in the new year, Trump once again floated the governor idea during a Mar-a-Lago news conference.
Other Canadians known to be in Washington on Monday, per The Canadian Press, included federal cabinet ministers Mary Ng and Francois-Philippe Champagne, and Liberal MP John McKay, co-chair of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group.
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey was set to attend embassy events. So, too, was Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who had originally intended to be at the nearby Capitol ceremony before it was moved indoors.
Others included Ontario government representatives — Energy Minister Stephen Lecce and Trade Minister Vic Fedeli — along with Martine Biron, Quebec’s minister of international relations.
Lana Payne, president of Unifor, the country’s largest private-sector union, and representatives from Canada’s auto sector were also reported to be at the embassy.