Charles Berkley of Wayne Gretzky's criticism from Canadians: “Fool!”

Former NBA MVP Charles Barkley has been targeting Canadians who have been critical of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky for the past few weeks.

Gretzky has been scrutinized by Canadians for his friendship with President Donald Trump, and the great hockey wife said criticism left Gretzky “attacking the heart.”

Berkley called these Canadians “fools.”

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“You're going to make fun of them in Canada and struggle with “great things,” Berkley said in a segment Thursday in the “Inside the NBA” . “Wayne Gretzky is the greatest hockey player of all time. He's the best person.”

Trump has become one of Canada's most controversial figures. After taking office in January, the country became the 51st state in the United States, suggesting it threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian imports into the United States.

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Gretzky attended the Victory Party after Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Gretzky was found wearing a Maga hat shortly thereafter and attended Trump's inauguration.

“In Canada, the fools gave him a hard time because of Trump and all the tariffs,” Berkley said. “He has nothing to do with that. He played hockey. He's the best hockey player ever. He couldn't control what these fools were doing in our government.”

On October 8, 1996, New York Rangers Centerway Gretsky is active while skating before the start of the Rangers game against the Florida Panthers at Miami Arena in Miami, Florida. (Zoran Milich/Allsport)

Trump said he asked Gretzky to become the next “Governor of Canada” after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would resign. But after Gretzky expressed support for not becoming the precious and beautiful 51st state, but leaving Canada with another country, Trump declared Gretzky a 'free agent'.

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“I don't want anyone in Canada to say anything bad about him. He said, “America! Trump wrote in the Truth Social Post, the greatest and most powerful country in the world.

Gretzky's friendship and interaction with Trump during the controversy has prompted a harsh resentment from Canadians against hockey legends, despite being universally loved in the country since he played.

New York Rangers' Waygletsky celebrates goals in the third term of the match against the Dallas Stars on November 7, 1997 in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

In response, Canadian hockey legend Bobby Oh wrote a column in the Toronto Sun, expressing his disappointment when he read Gretzky's criticism.

“How whimsical are people when someone who gave so much time and effort to Canadian hockey is treated that way,” said Orr's column. “Listen, we all have our personal beliefs because we all have something to do with religion, politics, etc. Wayne respects your right to such beliefs. Why can't you respect him?”

Gretzky's wife, Janet Gretzky, shared an Orr column on social media, showing that criticism “broke his heart.”

“Thanks to Bobby All. Your words mean the world to Wayne and his family. I've never met anyone more proud of being Canadian, and reading and seeing the average comments was heartbreaking.

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