Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Canadians ought to give Wayne Gretzky a break.
The hockey legend has come below fireplace for supporting U.S. President Donald Trump by attending his inauguration in January and visiting him a number of occasions in current months at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
Gretzky additionally attended an election victory social gathering for Trump final November and was seen sporting a Make America Nice Once more hat.
Whereas outlining Ontario’s response to Trump’s hefty tariffs on Canadian items, Ford took a second to defend Gretzky as a patriot who loves his homeland.
Ford says he just lately spoke to Gretzky, who was “all choked up.”
Janet Gretzky has additionally defended her husband, saying the “imply” feedback over his assist for Trump have damaged his coronary heart.
WATCH l Gretzky’s patriotism questioned after 4 Nations closing:
Some are questioning Wayne Gretzky’s Canadian patriotism after he appeared to assist the American workforce on the 4 Nations Face-Off closing — regardless of serving as Workforce Canada’s honorary captain. The hockey nice’s ties to U.S. President Donald Trump, who overtly desires to annex Canada, have additionally raised questions on his loyalty.
Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian items Tuesday and a ten per cent levy on vitality, sparking a commerce conflict as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded with Canada’s retaliatory tariffs.
Trump’s tariff threats have set off a wave of patriotism throughout Canada that features followers booing the U.S. nationwide anthem at sporting occasions reminiscent of hockey video games.
The controversy adopted Gretzky in his position as Workforce Canada’s honorary captain on the 4 Nations Face-Off in February.
“He’s a patriot, he loves Canada,” Ford stated Tuesday at a information convention the place he introduced a collection of retaliatory measures in opposition to the U.S.
“He by no means gave up his Canadian passport. So of us, give the man a break, simply give him a break. He loves Canada. He loves it like no tomorrow.”
Orr joins defence of Gretzky
Bobby Orr, one other hockey nice and Trump supporter, additionally defended Gretzky just lately.
“Hear, all of us have our private beliefs as they pertain to issues reminiscent of faith and politics,” Orr wrote in a chunk within the Toronto Solar.
“Wayne respects your proper to such beliefs — why cannot you respect his?”
And Trump himself tried to assuage Canadians’ anger towards Gretzky, who has not publicly commented on the controversy.
“Wayne and Janet, his great spouse, love Canada, and they need to solely assist Canada, and no matter else makes the Canadian Individuals, and Governor Justin Trudeau, completely satisfied,” Trump wrote on social media final week.
“He is the Biggest Canadian of all of them, and I’m subsequently making him a `free agent,’ as a result of I do not need anybody in Canada to say something unhealthy about him. He helps Canada the best way it’s, as he ought to, although it isn’t almost pretty much as good because it may very well be as a part of the Biggest and Most Highly effective Nation within the World, the Good Ole’ U.S.A.!”
WATCH l Why is Trump doing injury management for Gretzky?:
U.S. President Donald Trump got here to Wayne Gretzky’s defence after the Canadian hockey legend got here below fireplace for his affiliation with Trump, who continues to threaten annexing Canada to make it “the 51st state.” Andrew Chang breaks down the fallout from Gretzky’s look on the NHL’s current 4 Nations match that led to Trump’s present of assist. (Further credit: 3:38: Bloomberg Quicktake/YouTube; 3:39: C-SPAN)
Source link