Latest news with #AM-640
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'I have no political power with the president'::Wayne Gretzky distances himself from politics amid Donald Trump's 51st state remarks
Wayne Gretzky firmly distanced himself from political debates (Getty Images) Wayne Gretzky says he has 'no pull or power' with political leaders like Trump or Carney Wayne Gretzky reaffirms his apolitical stance as a sportsman, not a politician In a rare public statement last month, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky firmly distanced himself from political debates surrounding President Donald Trump , after renewed speculation about their relationship surfaced during Trump's second term. The 64-year-old Canadian icon addressed the topic during an interview on Toronto's AM-640 radio with Ben Wayne Gretzky never mentioned Donald Trump by name, he was responding to a broader question about how people may try to use his image or legacy to push political narratives. Amid recent chatter about Trump jokingly referring to Canada as the potential 51st U.S. state—and suggesting Gretzky be its governor—the Hall of Famer made it clear that he has no interest or influence in the political arena.'But, trust me, I have no political power with the prime minister or the president,' Gretzky said. 'That's between those two guys, and that's why you hold elections… But trust me I have no pull or power with either the prime minister or the president.'The comment served as a quiet rebuttal to critics who questioned his silence on Trump's controversial comments and past policies, including trade and tariffs affecting asked whether his record being broken by Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin had political weight, especially in today's charged climate, Gretzky dismissed the notion altogether. He insisted that during his career, politics was never part of the locker room conversation.'We watched basketball, we watched baseball… Hockey players, that's never on the docket,' he explained. 'The prime minister and the president don't tell us how to play hockey, and we don't tell them how to do politics, right?'The remarks underscore his consistent approach: stay in your lane and let leaders his neutrality in political matters, Gretzky's life is deeply intertwined with the U.S. He highlighted that his family — including five children, seven grandchildren, and a centenarian mother-in-law — are all American.'You be as proud of the United States of America as I am to be a Canadian,' he tells them. 'That's what your grandfather would have wanted.' Gretzky's comments offered a subtle but firm reminder that while he remains a beloved figure across North America, he has no interest in leveraging that status for political Read: 'Pretend you don't know me': Wayne Gretzky caught in crossfire as Donald Trump friendship sparks Canadian backlash
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wayne Gretzky says he has 'no political power' over the president or prime minister
TORONTO (AP) — Retired NHL great Wayne Gretzky downplayed his influence on Donald Trump in his first public comments since the U.S. president began his second term and began making references to making Canada the 51st state. On a radio show Monday hosted by Ben Mulroney, son of former consecutive Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Gretzky never used Trump's name and was never asked about Trump's tariffs and trade war or the 51st state comments. Mulroney instead asked Gretzky if it registered with him that others attempt to use his name to further their agendas. 'I don't worry about those kind of things because you can't make everybody happy,' Gretzky said on the show on AM-640 in Toronto. 'But, trust me, I have no political power with the prime minister or the president. That's between those two guys, and that's why you hold elections and that's why people get to do what they want to do and say what they want to say. But trust me I have no pull or power with either the prime minister or the president.' Some Canadians have openly wondered why Gretzky doesn't speak out against Trump's comments and they have noted his relationship with the Republican president dates back some years. Asked about having his NHL career goals record broken by Alex Ovechkin, a Russian player, Gretzky also brushed that aside and said he and his teammates never talked about politics during his playing days. 'We watched basketball, we watched baseball, we talked about the Blue Jays, we talked about the New York Yankees,' Gretzky said. "Hockey players, that's never on the docket. It's just something that we stay in our lane. The prime minister and the president don't tell us how to play hockey, and we don't tell them how to do politics, right?' Trump has called Gretzky a friend and once suggested the 'Great One' should be Canada's governor if the country becomes the 51st U.S. state. Gretzky sat with Trump's FBI Director, Kash Patel, during the Washington Capitals games in which Ovechkin tied and broke his record. The 64-year-old from Brantford, Ontario, has generally declined to discuss politics. 'I always say to my kids — I've got five American kids, seven American grandchildren, an American wife, a 103-year-old American mother-in-law, and I always tell them every day that you be as proud of the United States of America as I am to be a Canadian," Gretzky said on Mulroney's show. "That's what your grandfather would have wanted.' ___ AP NHL:
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Wayne Gretzky says he has 'no political power' over the president or prime minister
Retired NHL great Wayne Gretzky downplayed his influence on Donald Trump in his first public comments since the U.S. president began his second term and began making references to making Canada the 51st state. On a radio show Monday hosted by Ben Mulroney, son of former consecutive Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Gretzky never used Trump's name and was never asked about Trump's tariffs and trade war or the 51st state comments. Mulroney instead asked Gretzky if it registered with him that others attempt to use his name to further their agendas. 'I don't worry about those kind of things because you can't make everybody happy,' Gretzky said on the show on AM-640 in Toronto. 'But, trust me, I have no political power with the prime minister or the president. That's between those two guys, and that's why you hold elections and that's why people get to do what they want to do and say what they want to say. But trust me I have no pull or power with either the prime minister or the president.' Some Canadians have openly wondered why Gretzky doesn't speak out against Trump's comments and they have noted his relationship with the Republican president dates back some years. Asked about having his NHL career goals record broken by Alex Ovechkin, a Russian player, Gretzky also brushed that aside and said he and his teammates never talked about politics during his playing days. 'We watched basketball, we watched baseball, we talked about the Blue Jays, we talked about the New York Yankees,' Gretzky said. "Hockey players, that's never on the docket. It's just something that we stay in our lane. The prime minister and the president don't tell us how to play hockey, and we don't tell them how to do politics, right?' Trump has called Gretzky a friend and once suggested the 'Great One' should be Canada's governor if the country becomes the 51st U.S. state. Gretzky sat with Trump's FBI Director, Kash Patel, during the Washington Capitals games in which Ovechkin tied and broke his record. The 64-year-old from Brantford, Ontario, has generally declined to discuss politics. 'I always say to my kids — I've got five American kids, seven American grandchildren, an American wife, a 103-year-old American mother-in-law, and I always tell them every day that you be as proud of the United States of America as I am to be a Canadian," Gretzky said on Mulroney's show. "That's what your grandfather would have wanted.' ___
Associated Press
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Wayne Gretzky says he has ‘no political power' over the president or prime minister
TORONTO (AP) — Retired NHL great Wayne Gretzky downplayed his influence on Donald Trump in his first public comments since the U.S. president began his second term and began making references to making Canada the 51st state. On a radio show Monday hosted by Ben Mulroney, son of former consecutive Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Gretzky never used Trump's name and was never asked about Trump's tariffs and trade war or the 51st state comments. Mulroney instead asked Gretzky if it registered with him that others attempt to use his name to further their agendas. 'I don't worry about those kind of things because you can't make everybody happy,' Gretzky said on the show on AM-640 in Toronto. 'But, trust me, I have no political power with the prime minister or the president. That's between those two guys, and that's why you hold elections and that's why people get to do what they want to do and say what they want to say. But trust me I have no pull or power with either the prime minister or the president.' Some Canadians have openly wondered why Gretzky doesn't speak out against Trump's comments and they have noted his relationship with the Republican president dates back some years. Asked about having his NHL career goals record broken by Alex Ovechkin, a Russian player, Gretzky also brushed that aside and said he and his teammates never talked about politics during his playing days. 'We watched basketball, we watched baseball, we talked about the Blue Jays, we talked about the New York Yankees,' Gretzky said. 'Hockey players, that's never on the docket. It's just something that we stay in our lane. The prime minister and the president don't tell us how to play hockey, and we don't tell them how to do politics, right?' Trump has called Gretzky a friend and once suggested the 'Great One' should be Canada's governor if the country becomes the 51st U.S. state. Gretzky sat with Trump's FBI Director, Kash Patel, during the Washington Capitals games in which Ovechkin tied and broke his record. The 64-year-old from Brantford, Ontario, has generally declined to discuss politics. 'I always say to my kids — I've got five American kids, seven American grandchildren, an American wife, a 103-year-old American mother-in-law, and I always tell them every day that you be as proud of the United States of America as I am to be a Canadian,' Gretzky said on Mulroney's show. 'That's what your grandfather would have wanted.'
