Charles Barkley Defends Wayne Gretzky Against Canadian Criticism Over Trump Ties

The NBA legend called out Canadians upset with Gretzky for his friendship with President Trump, describing the backlash as unfair and hurtful.

Charles Barkley criticized Canadians who have been harsh toward Wayne Gretzky due to his friendship with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Gretzky faced backlash after attending Trump’s victory party and inauguration and being seen wearing a MAGA hat.
The criticism intensified following Trump’s controversial comments about annexing Canada and imposing tariffs, though Gretzky has expressed support for Canada remaining independent.
Gretzky’s wife, Janet, stated that the negative comments have deeply hurt him, while fellow hockey legend Bobby Orr publicly defended Gretzky in a column.
Barkley emphasized Gretzky’s unparalleled contributions to hockey and described the criticism as unwarranted, noting Gretzky has no control over U.S. political decisions.