Gretzky's Silence: Hockey Legend Navigates Trump Controversy and Canadian Pride

Wayne Gretzky BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

Wayne Gretzky’s name has been all over both sports pages and timelines in the last few days and not always for his on-ice legend status. In one of the week’s major headlines, Sportsnet reports that Gretzky met with the Canadian men’s national soccer team before their friendly against Venezuela on Tuesday. He offered a trademark humble yet inspiring pep talk and was presented with a custom jersey by captain Stephen Eustáquio. The team went on to win 2-0 in their final match of 2025, and the gesture got a lot of positive comment, with Gretzky credited by the squad for boosting Canadian pride across sports. The visit was at the invitation of head coach Jesse Marsch, with Gretzky joking to the group that he never even liked going to hockey practice himself but was thrilled to see Canadian athletes making waves internationally.

However, the glow of his ambassador role was shadowed by more contentious news. According to CTV News, Gretzky responded to mounting social media backlash over his friendship with US President Donald Trump. The controversy reignited after Trump once again made his infamous joke about making Canada the fifty-first state. Gretzky was criticized both for not defending Canada more forcefully and for not wearing a Team Canada jersey when introduced earlier this year as honorary captain for the 4 Nations Tournament. He answered critics in a recent interview, saying simply, I am just a hockey player, I cannot control what the President or the Prime Minister say, and reiterated his pride in being Canadian. The comments have sparked plenty of headlines and fresh debate online, especially after footage of their friendly appearances at Mar-a-Lago for Trump’s election night and inauguration circulated again, as first reported by AOL News. This has led to ongoing discussion about sports figures mixing with politics and what is expected of national icons in moments of diplomatic friction.

No verified reports have emerged of major business activities or public announcements from his foundation this week, and it appears Gretzky has not engaged in significant new ventures or endorsements in the period reviewed. While his social media mentions have seen an uptick—mostly driven by the Trump controversy—the sentiment has been mixed, with some Canadian fans defending his reluctance to play political referee and others insisting the country needs its heroes to take a firmer stand. If there is a single takeaway from the week, it is Wayne Gretzky once again finding himself in the whirlwind at the crossroads of sport, celebrity, and international headlines—only this time, it is as much for his silence as for a stirring speech.

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