Gretzky was spotted at Trump\u2019s inauguration in January 2025 as the U.S. president took office for his second term. In 2024, Trump teased Canada with the possibility of naming “The Great One” the governor of the “51st state.”<\/p>\n
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM<\/a><\/p>\n Wayne Gretzky arrives for the inauguration ceremony before Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th U.S. president in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025. (Saul Loeb\/Pool via Imagn Images)<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s poking of Canada<\/a> caused heightened tensions between the two countries before the president later backed off and called Gretzky a “free agent.”<\/p>\n The heightened tensions fueled intense competition between the U.S. and Canada hockey teams at the 4 Nations Face-Off<\/a> in 2025 and many expect it to carry over into the Winter Olympics should the two teams meet this month.<\/p>\n Subban defended Gretzky\u2019s relationship with Trump against critics in an interview with the Toronto Sun<\/a>.<\/p>\n “I\u2019d like to know what they\u2019ve contributed to the country and what they\u2019ve contributed to the game of hockey,” he told the outlet. “We\u2019re in an opinion-based world; everyone has an opinion and that\u2019s great. But my job isn\u2019t to listen to everyone\u2019s opinion \u2026 Wayne\u2019s paid his dues.<\/p>\n FBI Director Kash Patel, left, talks with former NHL player Wayne Gretzky, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/p>\n US OLYMPIC SKATING STARS CONSIDERING APPEAL OF JUDGE’S SCORING THAT DENIED THEM GOLD<\/a><\/p>\n “He\u2019s been in the trenches. He went to Nagano. He\u2019s put together Hockey Canada. He\u2019s played for Hockey Canada. He\u2019s represented the country. He\u2019s represented the league. He\u2019s done it all. I\u2019m sorry for people who feel (he betrayed Canada). So I would say this, \u2018You have zero credibility to comment on Wayne Gretzky and the decisions he makes.\u2019”<\/p>\n Subban suggested the back and forth between Trump and Canadian leaders was why the 4 Nations Face-Off became a rousing success.<\/p>\n “Just him talking about it \u2026 led to a whole bunch of people asking, \u2018Why is Trump talking about this hockey game?\u2019” he told the Toronto Sun. “That\u2019s how sensitive of a time it was, and that\u2019s how influential the president and the prime minister are \u2026 I didn\u2019t imagine how big the game could get or having world leaders involved in a tournament like that \u2026 But it changed the trajectory of the game \u2026 It would be cool to watch (the documentary) with Don Cherry and get his two cents on it.”<\/p>\n P.K. Subban #76 of the New Jersey Devils handles the puck against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on April 9, 2022, in Dallas, Texas. (Glenn James\/NHLI via Getty Images)<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n Subban is an executive producer on the new documentary series, “Rivals: The 4 Nations Face-Off.”<\/p>\n Follow Fox News Digital\u2019s\u00a0sports coverage on X<\/a> and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n![\"Wayne](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/nhl-wayne-gretzky-021326-1.jpg\")
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