Donald Trump sparks online stir by mistakenly calling Russian NHL star Canadian in awkward moment with Canada's Prime Minister
White House meeting
with
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney
,
sparked buzz online after seemingly implying that
NHL
star
Alex Ovechkin
is Canadian—despite the hockey legend hailing from Russia—prompting both confusion and humor across social media.
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A light moment turns viral as Trump's hockey reference raises eyebrows
During a
White House
meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on May 6, President Donald Trump stirred conversation online by seemingly suggesting that NHL star Alex Ovechkin is Canadian.
Although Trump never mentioned Ovechkin by name, his remarks appeared to refer directly to the Washington Capitals' captain — who is, in fact, Russian.
'I love Canada. I have a lot of respect for the Canadians −
Wayne Gretzky
, The Great One,' Trump said.
'You happen to have a very, very good hockey player right here on the Capitals, he is a big tough cookie too, just broke the record, and he's a great guy."
Ovechkin, one of the NHL's most prolific scorers, recently shattered Wayne Gretzky's long-standing record for career goals — a feat many believed unbreakable. While Trump praised Gretzky, a Canadian legend from Ontario, his follow-up line referencing a Capitals player 'who just broke the record' led many to assume he was alluding to Ovechkin.
Social media reacts with both humor and correction
The comment quickly ignited online chatter, with many interpreting it as a geographical mix-up. 'Trump just mistakenly called Alex Ovechkin a Canadian. SOLD, we'll take him!' one user quipped on social media, highlighting both the humorous tone and the pride many Canadians feel for hockey greatness — regardless of origin.
Others speculated that Trump may have simply been juxtaposing two greats — Gretzky and Ovechkin — without necessarily confusing their nationalities.
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Still, the implication didn't go unnoticed in the hockey world, where Ovechkin's Russian heritage is a major part of his identity and international career.
Though the former president's comment was likely meant as a lighthearted shoutout to a fan-favorite player, it adds to the long list of Trump's unscripted moments that have drawn media attention. USA TODAY reached out to the White House for clarification, but no official response has been issued.
Also Read:
Whether it was a slip or an innocent generalization, the internet has once again proven that sports fans — and political observers — are always listening closely.
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