The U.S. ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, has demanded an apology from The Globe and Mail for a column that allegedly mocked the intelligence, education, and character of U.S. Olympic hockey players who attended the State of the Union address. The column, written by Cathal Kelly, sparked outrage and disappointment, with Hoekstra calling it a gratuitous insult and crossing the line from legitimate criticism. The article's headline, comparing American athletes to monkeys in a zoo, was particularly demeaning, according to Hoekstra. The letter was sent on February 28, a day after the U.S. began bombing Iran, adding a layer of tension to the situation. The column came on the heels of a controversial celebration by the U.S. men's hockey team, where they were invited to the White House by President Trump, who made a joke that sparked laughter and raised eyebrows. The women's team, however, declined the invitation, citing academic and professional commitments. The incident caused a rift between the U.S. and Canada, as some American players who play for Canadian NHL teams participated in a display of support for a president who has threatened Canada's sovereignty. The column also suggested that the players were not avid readers or independent thinkers, which further angered Hoekstra. The situation escalated when Ottawa Senators' Brady Tkachuk had to distance himself from an AI-generated TikTok video published by the White House, where he appeared to issue a foul-mouthed insult of Canadians. The efforts to repair reputations continued with the golden goal scorer, Jack Hughes, and his brother Quinn appearing on Saturday Night Live with Hilary Knight and Megan Keller, who scored the game-tying and game-winning goals in their gold-medal match against Team Canada. The Globe and Mail's editor-in-chief, David Walmsley, defended the column, stating that strong opinion is a hallmark of independent journalism, but Hoekstra's office has sent a series of questions, demanding an apology and consequences if it's not published.
