“It has broken his heart”: Wayne Gretzky's wife says he is heartbroken by the recent backlash he has received for his friendship with Donald Trump

Wayne Gretzky's wife, Janet Jones Gretzky, expressed her heartbreak over the backlash he received for the couple's friendship with US President Donald Trump. In an Instagram post, Jones Gretzky expressed her heartbreak at the mean comments. The couple attended Trump's inauguration last month and have been frequent golfing partners of Trump.

Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky faces significant challenges in his home country due to his relationship with US President Donald Trump. Gretzky has been criticized in his home country for his association with Trump, particularly over his tariff threats and comments about Canada becoming the 51st state of the United States. His presence in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game in Boston has fueled further controversy.

The recent negative rhetoric prompted Donald Trump, Canadian hockey legend Bobby Orr, and Wayne Gretzky’s wife, Janet Jones Gretzky, to come to Gretzky’s defense. Orr voiced his disappointment in an op-ed published in the Toronto Sun last Saturday, criticizing the backlash Gretzky faced for his recent involvement with Canada’s hockey team. Meanwhile, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, seemingly to support Gretzky.
Janet Jones Gretzky, who attended Trump’s presidential inauguration last month alongside her husband, later expressed gratitude to Orr in an Instagram post on Thursday. Her caption hinted at the emotional strain this situation has placed on Gretzky.
"I have never met anyone who is more Proud to be a Canadian and it has broken his heart to read and see the mean comments," Janet Jones Gretzky wrote. "He would do anything to make Canadians Proud, with his Love for Hockey and his Country."

Fans in Edmonton are petitioning for a freeway in his name to be changed, as Capilano Drive was renamed Wayne Gretzky Drive in 1999. The petition has over 10,000 signatures on Change.org.
Also Read: “He wants to make me happy”: Donald Trump makes a cryptic post, defends Wayne Gretzky amid backlash from Canadians
Gretzky represented Canada in international competitions, including the 1998 Nagano Olympics. He served as executive director of the 2002 Olympic team that won gold, ending Canada's 50-year championship drought. After retiring in 1999, he became part-owner and coach of the Arizona Coyotes and is now a studio analyst for TNT.