Former U.S. President Suggests Canadian Hockey Icon Would Win “Easily” Without Campaigning
“I just left Wayne Gretzky, ‘The Great One’ as he is known in ice hockey circles,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Wednesday afternoon. “I said, ‘Wayne, why don’t you run for prime minister of Canada—soon to be known as the governor of Canada—you would win easily, you wouldn’t even have to campaign.’ He had no interest,” Trump wrote.
Trump’s remark about Canada becoming a U.S. state follows his history of comments suggesting annexation or purchase of Canada, which Ottawa continues to treat as a jest. However, Trump’s persistent rhetoric has drawn mixed reactions from Canadian politicians and experts, particularly as his inauguration looms.
The president-elect added that it would be “fun to watch” if Canadians started a movement to convince Gretzky to enter politics.
Wayne Gretzky, widely regarded as one of hockey’s greatest players, has a history of political engagement. He has previously supported Conservative politicians, including former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown during his bid for party leadership.
In the 2015 federal election, Gretzky appeared alongside then-Conservative leader Stephen Harper at a campaign event, praising Harper as an “unreal prime minister” and saying he had been “wonderful to the whole country.”
Despite these connections, Gretzky has maintained a nonpartisan approach at times, once hosting a lunch for former Liberal prime minister Pierre Trudeau.
The Canadian Press has reached out to Gretzky’s representatives for comment, but no response has been received.
Trump’s suggestion comes at a politically uncertain time for Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority government faces the possibility of collapse in the coming year, particularly after the recent resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Experts suggest that Ottawa is rightly prioritizing concerns over potential tariffs under Trump’s administration rather than reacting to his annexation rhetoric.
While Trump’s comments have generated buzz, Gretzky appears uninterested in stepping into the political arena. For now, Canadians can only speculate on what a campaign by “The Great One” might look like—though Trump seems to believe it would be a guaranteed victory.