Trump Mistakenly Identifies Ovechkin as Canadian During Press Conference with Canadian PM

During a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, President Donald Trump mistakenly referred to Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin as a Canadian hockey player, despite Ovechkin being Russian. Trump praised both Wayne Gretzky, a Canadian legend, and Ovechkin, who recently broke Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal-scoring record, but conflated their nationalities while expressing his admiration for Canadian hockey. The incident sparked widespread reactions on social media, with critics and hockey fans highlighting Trump's geographical error. The press conference occurred amid heightened U.S.-Canada tensions over trade and Trump's controversial remarks about making Canada the 51st state. Trump largely sidestepped questions about concessions from Canada, instead emphasizing his desire for friendly relations. Ovechkin himself is preparing for the Capitals' playoff run, while the diplomatic gaffe continues to draw both humor and criticism online.