Wayne Gretzky, former hockey legend and close associate of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, has been encouraged to enter Canadian politics.
"I just met Wayne Gretzky, 'The Great One' of hockey. I told him, 'Wayne, why don’t you run for Prime Minister of Canada, soon to be Governor of Canada? You’d win easily, no campaign needed,'" Trump wrote on Truth Social on December 25.
Trump added that Gretzky, 63, showed little interest in politics but suggested Canadians should launch a "Draft Wayne Gretzky" movement, calling it "a fascinating prospect to watch."
"Not only is he a hockey legend, but he’s also a cultural icon who unites Canadians," said David O’Brien, a Canadian sports historian. "If he decided to run, he’d have widespread support."
A Hockey Legend
Born in 1961 in Brantford, Ontario, Gretzky demonstrated hockey talent early. According to Sportshall, he began his career at age 15 in the Ontario Hockey League before joining the Edmonton Oilers at 16. He started playing in the National Hockey League (NHL) a year later.
The NHL, comprising 32 teams (25 from the U.S. and 7 from Canada), saw Gretzky lead the Edmonton Oilers to four championship wins, beginning in 1984. After transferring to American teams, he retired in 1999, leaving behind an unparalleled record of scoring and assists.
Gretzky remains a national symbol in Canada, celebrated as one of the country’s most beloved athletes. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000 and later coached Canada’s Olympic hockey team to gold in 2002, their first in 50 years.
Despite occasionally appearing with political figures like Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper during his 2015 re-election bid, Gretzky has avoided partisan controversies. He also met the late Pierre Trudeau, father of current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, during his career.
Trump's Remarks Stir Mixed Reactions
Trump’s comments about Gretzky sparked varied responses. While some fans supported the idea, others criticized Gretzky’s close ties with Trump, including his attendance at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in November for a victory celebration, where he was seen wearing a "Make America Great Again" cap.
"Gretzky used to be the epitome of integrity and family values, but now I no longer see him as one of the greats on and off the ice," one online commenter wrote.
It remains unclear how serious Trump was about his remarks. His comments come amid strained U.S.-Canada relations, following his November threat to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods unless Ottawa curbs illegal drug trafficking and migration into the U.S. Trump has also joked that Trudeau is "the governor of America’s 51st state."
Support for Trudeau has dropped to 33%, according to a September poll, with growing calls for him to resign ahead of elections in October 2025. The Conservative Party currently leads Trudeau’s Liberal Party by over 20 points in polls.
Trump’s invocation of Gretzky, a cultural icon, has introduced an unexpected cultural dimension into already complex U.S.-Canada relations, Newsweek commented.
Despite the attention, Gretzky appears uninterested in pursuing a political career.
"Wayne is deeply honored by the respect he’s received, but he’s just a hockey guy, not a politician," a source close to Gretzky stated in response to Trump’s remarks.
(Sources: First Post, CBC, Newsweek)
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