Gretzky’s Lack of Response to Trump’s Canada Criticism Continues to Stir Controversy | NHL News Times of India

Once held in the highest regard as Canada’s most celebrated sports icon, Wayne Gretzky’s reputation took an unexpected tumble in the mid-2020s. Interestingly, this had nothing to do with his illustrious NHL career, but was a result of his silence at a time when Canada’s political relationship with the United States became strained.

Gretzky, renowned globally as “The Great One,” was long a symbol of Canadian pride. He led the Edmonton Oilers to four Stanley Cups in the 1980s and represented Canada on the international sports stage. His emotional move to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988 was a disappointment to fans, but it did not tarnish his reputation in his home country.

This image began to crack when Gretzky was seen at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago election night party wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. He was later seen attending Trump’s inauguration, sent ripples of confusion among his Canadian fans.

It was jarring for many Canadians to see their hero associate closely with a President renowned for his anti-Canadian rhetoric, whimsically proposing that Canada should become the “51st state” and condescendingly referring to Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, as the “governor” of Canada. Gretzky’s friendship with Trump wasn’t new, his son-in-law, golfer Dustin Johnson, has close ties with the former U.S. president. However, what startled his fans was Gretzky’s silence over Trump’s belittling comments about Canada.

As noted by Edmonton sportswriter Terry Jones, “If I’m right that [Gretzky] doesn’t think Canada should become the 51st state, he should step up and say it.”

The public reaction was instant and severe. Gretzky’s statue outside Edmonton’s Rogers Place was vandalized, a deeply disrespectful act against a beloved national figure. His patriotic commitment was questioned when he attended a Canada-USA hockey event in a navy suit instead of the traditional red jersey worn by past honorary captains. Other Canadian public figures, like Mike Myers and Michael Bublé, were vocal in defending Canada’s sovereignty during this period. However, Gretzky remained mute.

Years after the incident, it serves as a compelling reminder that silence from public figures during politically charged moments can sometimes say more than words – a lesson that even “The Great One” is not guarded against the fluctuating waves of public perception.