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Explosive 7 Moments: Wayne Gretzky’s Friendship With Trump Sparks Pride and Fury
Table of Contents:Wayne
Positive sentiment: Celebrates Gretzky’s legendary hockey legacy and long-standing personal relationships
Negative sentiment: Highlights backlash, controversy, and growing public anger in Canada
Introduction: From Hockey Hero to Divisive Figure:Wayne
Ice hockey icon , long celebrated as “The Great One,” has found himself at the center of political controversy due to his decades-long friendship with U.S. President . While Gretzky insists the relationship is personal and non-political, many Canadians now view it as deeply troubling, transforming a national hero into a polarizing public figure.
This timeline breaks down how the friendship developed, why it became controversial, and how it continues to divide opinion on both sides of the border.
1980s–2009: Early Ties Through Golf and Family
Gretzky’s relationship with Trump reportedly began in the 1980s, largely through golf. At the time, Edmonton Oilers players occasionally played rounds with Trump via then-team owner Peter Pocklington.
The connection strengthened in 2009 when Gretzky’s daughter Paulina began dating professional golfer Dustin Johnson, a close Trump associate and frequent golf partner. Johnson later married Paulina in 2022, further intertwining the families.
🔗 Source:
- CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/brantford-hkn-gretzky-reputation-questioned-1.7498744
November 2024: The MAGA Hat Moment
The friendship became impossible to ignore when Gretzky attended Trump’s 2024 election victory party at Mar-a-Lago wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat.
Images from the event spread rapidly online, sparking immediate backlash in Canada, where Trump remains deeply unpopular.
🔗 Source:
- Toronto Life: https://torontolife.com/culture/p-k-subban-defended-wayne-gretzkys-maga-associations-in-a-recent-interview/
December 2024 – January 2025: ‘Governor of Canada’ Comments
On Christmas Day 2024, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had encouraged Gretzky to run for prime minister—or jokingly referred to him as the “governor of Canada.” He repeated the remarks weeks later at Mar-a-Lago.
In January 2025, Gretzky and his wife attended Trump’s presidential inauguration as Trump’s comments about Canada becoming the “51st state” and new trade tariffs fueled nationwide outrage.
🔗 Sources:
- Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-wayne-gretzky-pass-didnt-know-him-canada-election-2066005
- CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/brantford-hkn-gretzky-reputation-questioned-1.7498744
February 2025: NHL Backlash at the 4 Nations Face-Off
During the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in Boston, Gretzky served as honorary captain for Team Canada. He was booed by fans at TD Garden, appeared without a Team Canada jersey, and gave a thumbs-up gesture toward the American team—further inflaming critics.
Outside the rink, vandalism targeted Gretzky statues in Edmonton and Brantford, while petitions emerged calling for Wayne Gretzky Drive to be renamed.
Trump later defended his friend on Truth Social, stating Gretzky was “low key” about Canada remaining a separate country.
🔗 Sources:
- Pro Football Network: https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nhl/all-star-wayne-gretzky-friendship-donald-trump/
- NOW Toronto: https://nowtoronto.com/news/wayne-gretzky-donald-trump/
March 2025: Vandalism and Public Anger Intensify
The controversy escalated when Gretzky’s statue outside Rogers Place in Edmonton was vandalized, including one incident where the statue was smeared with feces.
A petition to rename Wayne Gretzky Drive surpassed 10,000 signatures, reflecting growing frustration among Canadians who once viewed him as untouchable.
🔗 Source:
November 2025: Gretzky Breaks His Silence
In a podcast interview, Gretzky finally addressed the backlash, emphasizing his Canadian identity.
“I know in my heart I’m Canadian. I’ve stayed Canadian, and I’m a Canadian for life,” he said.
He added that he has no interest in politics and recalled receiving a supportive call from then–Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who told him, “I’m giving you a hug call.”
🔗 Source:
February 2026: P.K. Subban Defends Gretzky
Former NHL All-Star publicly defended Gretzky during an interview promoting the documentary RIVALS: The 4 Nations Face-Off.
Subban criticized Gretzky’s detractors, arguing they lacked credibility and emphasizing Gretzky’s lifelong contributions to Canadian hockey.
Despite the defense, polling shows 78% of Canadians disapprove of Trump, underscoring why the friendship remains so controversial.
🔗 Sources:
- Toronto Life: https://torontolife.com/culture/p-k-subban-defended-wayne-gretzkys-maga-associations-in-a-recent-interview/
- Yahoo Sports: https://sports.yahoo.com/article/wayne-gretzky-got-bed-donald-093100835.html
Conclusion: Legacy vs. Loyalty
For Gretzky, the relationship with Trump is personal and predates politics. For many Canadians, however, his silence in the face of Trump’s rhetoric about Canadian sovereignty feels like a betrayal.
As former Oilers owner Peter Pocklington summed it up: “Wayne is not a politician. He’s a hockey player. Period.”
Still, the debate shows no sign of fading—and Gretzky’s legacy now exists alongside one of the most emotionally charged political divides in modern Canadian history.