President Trump's Canada remarks spark Wayne Gretzky controversy and fan backlash

President Donald Trump made a bizarre reference to hockey icon Wayne Gretzky while welcoming new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to the White House, reports Irish Star, noting that US-Canada relations are at a low point following the president’s claim about wanting Canada to become the 51st American state. During the awkward Oval Office meeting on Tuesday, President Trump told reporters, "I love Canada. I have a lot of respect for the Canadians. I mean, Wayne Gretzky, how good? The great one." The president then seemingly suggested that Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is Canadian, despite the NHL's all-time leading scorer being Russian. 

Irish Star highlighted how Carney used the platform to firmly reject President Trump's annexation ideas, stating, "As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale," to which the president quickly responded, "Never say never." The publication also mentioned that Gretzky has not hidden his support for President Trump, having been photographed wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat in the past.

The controversy surrounding Ovechkin adds another layer to this story, reports Jobaaj Stories, which detailed how the Russian hockey star's record-breaking career is being overshadowed by political controversies. According to Jobaaj, Ovechkin recently presented an autographed jersey to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a gesture that triggered widespread criticism. President Trump's mistaken identification of Ovechkin as Canadian quickly went viral on social media, generating a wide spectrum of reactions and showcasing how even small errors can become significant news stories in today's political climate. 

The publication explained that despite these off-ice controversies, Ovechkin continues to be a dominant force in the NHL, having surpassed Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal-scoring record. Jobaaj Stories emphasized that Ovechkin's legacy will be shaped not only by his remarkable goal-scoring prowess but by his controversial involvement in global political dynamics.

Wayne Gretzky is now facing considerable backlash over his association with Trump, according to Athlon Sports, which reported that the hockey legend known as "The Great One" has drawn massive criticism for his support of President Trump. In a recent interview with The Atlantic, the president admitted that he told Gretzky he would have a pass to pretend not to know him due to the tensions between the United States and Canada. 

As quoted in Athlon's coverage, President Trump stated, "I love Canada. I have great friends. Wayne Gretzky's a friend of mine. I mean, I have great friends. I said to Wayne, 'I'm gonna give you a pass, Wayne.' I don't want to ruin his reputation in Canada. I said, 'Just pretend you don't know me.'" This statement, likely intended to shield Gretzky from backlash, has instead intensified public scrutiny, according to Athlon's analysis. The sports publication also mentioned that people grew increasingly wary of Gretzky after he was seen wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat at an election celebration event, creating a situation where the Canadian hockey icon now finds himself in hot water with many from his native country.