President-Elect Donald Trump thinks NHL great Wayne Gretzky could be Canada’s next leader.
On Wednesday, Trump took to social media to throw out the idea of Gretzky stepping in as a replacement for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom critics say is under heavy scrutiny.
Trump posted, “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.’”
According to Trump, Gretzky wasn’t interested, but the President-Elect encouraged Canadians to start a “DRAFT WAYNE GRETZKY Movement,” mentioning, “It would be so much fun to watch!”
Trudeau has been facing growing pressure to resign after the sudden departure of Chrystia Freeland, his Finance Minister, earlier this month.
Trump took the opportunity to ridicule Trudeau on social media, as he’s done lately, referring to the Canadian leader as “Governor Justin Trudeau” while repeatedly nudging the suggestion that Canada should join the U.S. as an additional state.
Trump wrote on Truth Social, “The Great State of Canada is stunned as the Finance Minister resigns, or was fired, from her position by Governor Justin Trudeau.”
President Donald Trump says Wayne Gretzky should run for Prime Minister of Canada. pic.twitter.com/VjamnPTwAT
— YEGWAVE (@yegwave) December 26, 2024
“Her behavior was totally toxic, and not at all conducive to making deals which are good for the very unhappy citizens of Canada. She will not be missed!!!” He added.
Gretzky, best known for his record-breaking hockey career across 20 seasons and four Stanley Cup wins with the Edmonton Oilers, has been linked to Trump publicly in the past.
The NHL Hall of Famer has appeared at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private resort, and has expressed his support for the President-Elect.
When not discussing Gretzky’s qualifications, Trump hasn’t passed up on trolling Trudeau directly.
Trump’s recent digs include labeling Trudeau a “governor,” a jab dripping with implications toward folding Canada into the United States.
Earlier this month, Trump reportedly told Trudeau in a face-to-face meeting that if Canada couldn’t afford a hefty tariff, they might as well “become our 51st state.”
Trump doubled down when he wrote online, “It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.”
“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! DJT.”
That particular dinner followed a tense standoff over Trump’s threats to slap a steep 25% tariff on everything imported from Canada.
Trudeau had been meeting with Trump days after the President-Elect made his demands, which tied lower tariffs to helping secure U.S. borders and addressing drug-related issues involving immigration.
On Christmas, Trump lit up social media once more. He wrote that Canada’s economic future would improve drastically if they became part of the United States.
“If Canada was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World.”
Trump didn’t stop there, though. He veered into an entirely different subject, posting about the strategic importance of Greenland to U.S. national security and hinting that the territory’s people favored America stepping in.
“The people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for National Security purposes and who want the U.S. to be there, and we will!” Trump remarked.
President Trump wants The Great One, Wayne Gretzky to run for Prime Minister of Canada. I happened to run into him at Mar-A-Lago on election night. pic.twitter.com/V9zgZjHhf8
— Chris Pavlovski 🏴☠️ (@chrispavlovski) December 25, 2024
Not content with wrapping the day at that, Trump also addressed the Panama Canal. Recently, he has suggested the canal’s control should revert back to the United States if Panama doesn’t comply with fairer treatment toward the American government.
“Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in ‘repair’…” read one of Trump’s holiday posts about the subject.
Trump contended in another post that Jimmy Carter’s decision to transfer control of the Panama Canal to Panama was a mistake, calling it a foolish giveaway and emphasizing provisions tied to the original agreement. “You got to treat us fairly, and they haven’t treated us fairly,” he insisted.