Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky has made it clear he has no influence over either U.S. President Donald Trump or Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, brushing off recent speculation surrounding his name and politics.
Speaking on a Toronto radio program hosted by Ben Mulroney, son of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Gretzky responded to growing questions about his longstanding relationship with Trump, who recently made controversial comments about Canada potentially becoming the 51st state of the United States.
“I have no political power with the prime minister or the president,” Gretzky said. “That’s between those two guys. That’s why you hold elections and that’s why people get to say what they want to say.”
Although Gretzky never directly named Trump during the interview, his remarks were the first public response to mounting online criticism asking why he has remained silent as the U.S. President ramped up trade pressure on Canada and suggested tighter political integration between the two countries.
Over the years, Trump has openly referred to Gretzky as a personal friend and even joked that “The Great One” should be named Canada’s governor if such an annexation ever took place. Recently, Gretzky was seen sitting beside FBI Director Kash Patel at a Washington Capitals game where Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin broke Gretzky’s long-standing NHL goal record — a moment that further fueled commentary due to its geopolitical symbolism.
Despite the political storm, Gretzky remained focused on sports, downplaying the intersection between hockey and politics.
“Hockey players, that’s never on the docket,” he said. “The prime minister and the president don’t tell us how to play hockey, and we don’t tell them how to do politics, right?”
The 64-year-old Brantford native also addressed questions about Ovechkin surpassing his NHL goals record, emphasizing admiration for the Russian player’s accomplishment.
“We talked about the Blue Jays, we talked about the Yankees. We never talked about politics in the dressing room.”
Gretzky, who resides in the U.S. with his American wife, five children, and seven grandchildren, says he still identifies proudly as Canadian while honoring his family’s American roots.
“I always tell my kids — you be as proud of the United States of America as I am to be a Canadian. That’s what your grandfather would have wanted,” he said.
Known for keeping his personal and political views private throughout his public life, Gretzky continues to avoid endorsing political figures — a stance that may not quiet critics, but reflects his commitment to remaining above the partisan fray.