Connor McDavid, the bright, young face of the NHL's future, lathered on bronzer and plopped that familiar combover toupée on top of his head. The attention to detail was decent enough, complete with a pin of the American flag on his lapel and a slim red tie. It's one of the better Donald Trump get-ups we've seen this Halloween.
Collectively, the hockey world cringed.
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Nothing to see here. Just a Good Canadian Boy posing as the most controversial figure in North America for a fun night out with his girlfriend, Lauren Kyle, whose Melania Trump costume turned out even better than McDavid's Trump. What could go wrong?
Well, after Kyle shared the photo of her and McDavid to her Instagram account Monday afternoon, the reactions on social media were about as polarizing as the president himself. Some were amused, seeing it as an obvious gag carried out in the free-expression spirit of Halloween. Others, more critical.
Serial liar, bigot, and homophobe who brags about sexual assault are facts about Trump. Not opinions.
— Brian McNary (@Brian_McNary) October 31, 2017
This is really ugly pic.twitter.com/Gyag56nTY2
— V 🌸🏒🍁 (@vthecatlady) October 30, 2017
The whole internet loves Hockey Boy, a lovely boy that plays hockey! *5 seconds later* We regret to inform you the boy is racist
— Namita (@nnstats) October 30, 2017
It appears Connor McDavid misinterpreted the Oilers’ need for offensive right wingers pic.twitter.com/ogAn8x1mNf
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) October 30, 2017
Making Halloween Normalize A Racist Again. https://t.co/vMlHJjLoZk
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) October 30, 2017
Connor McDavid dressing up as Trump is not offensive. Trump still being our president is. Satire is funny. President Orange Goblin is not
— Scott Szymendera (@FlaskandStein) October 31, 2017
Connor McDavid gave it his best-ish shot, but these are the Trump costumes we all deserve. pic.twitter.com/8zvwEvjHiu
— Carly Dermott (@carlydermott) October 31, 2017
I'm sorry. I don't understand why McDavid dressing as Trump is offensive. I am pretty sure it wasn't an homage.
— Momofthehour (@TheMomoftheHour) October 31, 2017
Please explain. ..
McDavid went as Trump for Halloween. Do I like his costume choice? Nope. Poor taste, most definately...
— Shelby (@shelbyae) October 31, 2017
I don't even know what to say about McDavid dressing up as Trump besides this: what a stupid, typical white guy 😒
— 🌸🌸 power (@xcorinnexx) October 31, 2017
"It's a Halloween costume, that's all it was," McDavid told reporters when asked Tuesday about the reaction to his costume. "It's not meant to be anything or to mean anything. It's a Halloween costume. That's all I'll say about it."
Regardless of perception, the mere association with Trump and his likeness carries a risk of backlash in the politically-charged climate of 2017. (Just ask the Penguins.) The NHL has been grappling with this over the last month as Trump's brash, offensive rhetoric increasingly infiltrate the sports world, while some of hockey's highest-profile players have gone to uncomfortable lengths to remain neutral.
Halloween poll from @ppppolls finds that Satan is still scarier than the president pic.twitter.com/DxJwm27FzE
— Colin Campbell (@RaleighReporter) October 31, 2017
McDavid's costume was light-hearted, to be sure, and hardly original. But not everyone sees it that way.
