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Could Wayne Gretzky follow in the footsteps of sports greats George Weah and Imran Khan by becoming a world leader?
President-elect Donald Trump is encouraging the NHL legend to run for the top office in his native Canada, although not necessarily as Prime Minister.
Speaking after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau announced his intention to resign, Trump again hinted at his hope to see America’s northern neighbor become the 51st state on Tuesday.
‘I have some many great friends,’ the 78-year-old Trump said to a crowd at Mar-a-Lago. ‘One of them is the ”Great One.” I said, ”Run for Prime Minister, you’ll win… It will take two seconds.”
‘He said, ”Well, am I gonna run for Prime Minister or Governor? You tell me,”’ Trump continued.
‘I said: ”I dunno, let’s make it Governor. I like that better.”
President-elect Donald Trump is encouraging the NHL legend to run for the top office in his native Canada, although not necessarily as Prime Minister
Three-time Stanley Cup champion Wayne Gretzky speaks during a state funeral of late former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney at Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal
Famously preoccupied by America’s trade deficit with Canada, Trump previously suggested the country’s 10 provinces and three territories should become the 51st state. He even tweeted about the idea on Christmas Day, offering Gretzky as a potential ‘Governor of Canada.’
‘You would win easily, you wouldn’t have to campaign,’ Trump wrote in his Truth Social post.
Alas, Gretzky did not seem eager to become the Prime Minister or Governor of Canada, according to Trump.
‘He had no interest, but I think the people of Canada should start a DRAFT WAYNE GRETZKY Movement,’ Trump added. ‘It would be so much fun to watch!’
Although he delivered a eulogy for former Canadian PM Brian Mulroney at a state funeral in Montreal last March, Gretzky has shied away from politics since being slammed by his countrymen for supporting then-US President George Bush’s invasion of Iraq in 2002.
Ultimately a ‘U$ Lackey’ sign was hung from a Gretzky statue in Edmonton, where the NHL’s all-time leading scorer won three Stanley Cups before his 1989 trade to the Los Angeles Kings.
Trump previously named Gretzky as a potential PM, while again suggesting Canada join the US
Gretzky’s wife Janet Jones also posted an older picture of him with a beaming Donald Trump
Gretzky did attend Trump’s election victory party at Mar-a-Lago, where the two golf aficionados and their families were seen celebrating together.
Janet Jones, Gretzky’s long-time wife, shared a picture of her husband with Trump on social media, which appeared to anger liberal hockey fans.
‘You have to really question someone’s ethics and logic supporting someone like Trump,’ one user posted.
‘Apparently there is an inverse relationship between hockey skills and intelligence,’ another added.
One said: ‘Few things on earth more embarrassing than Canadian maga weirdos’.
Gretzky was one of several sports stars to support Trump during the election campaign.
He joined the likes of 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, retired Packers quarterback Brett Favre, and former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick by backing Trump to beat Vice President Kamala Harris.
