Wayne Gretzky is suddenly a political “free agent.”
At least that’s according to his friend Donald Trump.
The U.S. president sounded off on the recent controversy to have the Great One serve as honourary captain of Team Canada during the 4 Nations Face-Off last week in Boston before the Connor McDavid-led squad downed the U.S. 3-2 in overtime.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Gretzky remains a “fantastic guy” and “supports Canada the way it is” despite his “low-key” stance on the issue.
“Wayne 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,” Trump said. “He’s the Greatest Canadian of them all, and I am therefore making him a ‘free agent,’ because I don’t want anyone in Canada to say anything bad about him.
“He supports Canada the way it is, as he should, even though it’s not nearly as good as it could be as part of the Greatest and Most Powerful Country in the World, the Good Ole’ U.S.A.!”
Gretzky, who attended Trump’s inauguration and election victory party, has found himself in the middle of the heated political rhetoric between Canada and the U.S. with Trump threatening punishing tariffs on his country’s longtime ally, while repeatedly calling for Canada to become the 51st American state.
Criticism of Gretzky, who has remained silent on the issue, only got worse after he gave the U.S. team a thumbs-up before the 4 Nations final while wearing a suit and tie during the pregame festivities. Meanwhile, Mike Eruzione, the honourary American captain, wore a Team USA jersey.
That led to blistering criticism online and a petition calling for Wayne Gretzky Drive in Edmonton to be renamed.
Gretzky, who has been backed by fellow Canadian NHL great Bobby Orr and former Coach’s Corner host Don Cherry, has yet to comment on Trump’s repeated threats to annex Canada and hit it with punishing tariffs.
That led Trump to decide to speak up in his stead.
“They call him, ‘The Great One,’ and he is,” Trump said in his post. “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 ‘low key’ 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.”
Time will tell if that satisfies aggrieved Canadian fans, eh?