Trump ‘loves’ Canadians, especially Gretzky, but thinks Canada’s leaders are ‘very bad’

U.S. President Donald Trump says he “love(s) the Canadian people” but that the nation’s leaders “have taken advantage” of the U.S. for too long in his latest rant about the country.

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Speaking at a White House event marking U.S. Hispanic Heritage Month on Wednesday, Trump said that the U.S. was “so stupidly run” in the past because it “allowed” automakers to make cars for the U.S. in other countries, including Canada.

The president went on: “Canada has taken advantage of us for so many years. The worst of any country.” But, he added, “I love the Canadian people. So many friends,” highlighting former NHL player Wayne Gretzky and “his incredible wife,” Janet, in particular.

Trump: Canada has taken advantage of us for so many years. The worst of any country. They were very bad. Now, they're being taught a little lesson. We just named a certain lake: Lake America.
pic.twitter.com/3Hh5trKgmJ

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) September 30, 2026

Gretzky and Trump have been spotted at events together on multiple occasions. He and his wife attended an election night event at Mar-a-Lago in November 2024, as well as Trump’s inauguration at the U.S. Capitol building in January 2025.

Trump had previously suggested that Gretzky should “run for prime minister of Canada, soon to be known as the governor of Canada,” in December 2024, but later described him as a “free agent” in a social media post “because I don’t want anyone in Canada to say anything bad about him.”

The post came after Gretzky was booed at the 4 Nations hockey tournament in 2025, where he was Team Canada’s honorary captain.

In November that year, Gretzky addressed the backlash in an episode of the 100% Hockey With Millard & Shannon podcast.

“Canadians are proud, but here’s the two factors,” he said. “I don’t know how many people move to the U.S., whether it’s business or entertainment or hockey, and I don’t know the exact number, but I would tell you that over 90 per cent of them become American citizens. I never became an American citizen. I’m Canadian,” he continued.

When host John Shannon asked Gretzky if he understood that many Canadians want to hear from him when it comes to the topic of politics, he replied: “Well, sure, but as I said to the prime minister, he wouldn’t tell me how to play hockey. I’m not going to tell him what to do in politics. Simple as that.”

However, Trump made clear his “love” of Canadians doesn’t extend to the country’s lawmakers in his address. He went on to say that Canadian leaders have taken advantage of the U.S.’s “stupid leadership” for many years.

“They act like they’re totally innocent. They’re not. They were very bad, but now they’re being taught a little lesson,” he said, referring to an executive order he signed in August renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America.”

Trump’s latest verbal attack on Canada comes amid an escalating trade war between the two countries, in which a U.S. import ban on certain Canadian goods, including some alcohol and dairy products, came into effect on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday that Canadian lobbyists should “get the hell out” of the U.S. and stop interfering in the upcoming midterm elections there.

Speaking during a summit on American economic growth, he asked: “Do you really want to spend any time on Canada? Because Canada economically is a rowboat. We’re an aircraft carrier. How’s that going to end?”

Prime Minister Mark Carney was asked about the comments at a press conference in Vancouver on Tuesday, along with recent comments made by Trump predicting that Canada would apologize and roll back its counter-tariffs on U.S. goods.

The PM broke into laughter even before the question was complete. Composing himself, he replied: “I take note of both comments. How’s that? No response to either.”

Before the next question was posed, he added: “I’ll just say this on trade. It continues to be the case that Canada stands ready to negotiate in good faith (on) a mutually advantageous trade arrangement that respects both our countries’ sovereignty.”

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