The hockey star expressed no interest in the position.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump suggested that hockey legend Wayne Gretzky should be the next prime minister of Canada.
“I just left Wayne Gretzky, ‘The Great One’ as he is known in Ice Hockey circles. 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, but I think the people of Canada should start a DRAFT WAYNE GRETZKY Movement. It would be so much fun to watch!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Gretzky, who has been dubbed the greatest hockey player of all time, reportedly appeared at Trump’s Nov. 6 election victory party at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, with a “Make America Great Again” hat.
Gretzky, who has dual Canadian-U.S. citizenship, played primarily for the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings during his 20-year NHL career.
The president-elect has threatened a 25 percent tariff on Canada were it not to sufficiently protect its border and control the flow of fentanyl that has come into the United States from the north.
In a Nov. 25 post on Truth Social, Trump said it “will remain in effect until such time as drugs, in particular fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country!”
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“Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem,” Trump wrote. “We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!”
Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have been in contact multiple times since the former won the Nov. 5 presidential election, including a meeting at Mar-a-Lago on Nov. 29.
Additionally, Trump has proposed the United States acquire Canada and make it its 51st state.
“It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada,” Trump wrote on Truth Social early Tuesday. “I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all!”
Trudeau is also facing increasing domestic pressure after the resignation of his Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland from cabinet, and as his Liberal Party trails in the polls, with surveys showing the Conservatives would win in a landslide if an election was called today.
According to a Dec. 17 Abacus poll, the Conservative Party currently has the support of 45 percent of Canadians, compared to 20 percent for the Liberals.
