02/24/26 05:11:00
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02/24 17:10 CST US men's hockey team visits Trump at the White House on its way
to his State of the Union
US men's hockey team visits Trump at the White House on its way to his State of
the Union
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) --- The gold-medal-winning U.S. men's Olympic hockey team
visited President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday afternoon before
they were set to attend his State of the Union address later in the day.
Videos and photos shared on social media by Trump administration aides showed
hockey team members posing for a photograph in front of the South Portico. They
walked along the West Wing colonnade where Trump has posted portraits of every
U.S. president just steps away from the Oval Office, where they were welcomed
by Trump.
As they approached the Oval Office, some of the players popped into the press
office's open door to flash the medals from their 2-1 overtime win over Canada
on Sunday at the Milan Cortina Olympics. It was the Americans' first gold medal
in men's hockey since the "Miracle on Ice" group won in Lake Placid, New York,
in 1980.
Staffers applauded and shouted, "We love you!"
"I recognize every one of you. I know every one of you," Trump said as the
players entered the Oval Office, which he has redecorated with numerous
flourishes of gold that matched the players' medals.
"Big guys," he said, standing near his desk and shaking hands with the players,
who wore dark tops with "USA," the American flag and the Olympic rings on the
front and light colored pants.
After their victory, a video that circulated on social media appeared to show
Trump inviting the team on a phone call in the locker room, as he joked that
he'd also have to invite the women's team, which also won gold over Canada.
The women declined, citing scheduling issues.
For forward Matthew Tkachuk, the trip to the White House was becoming a regular
visit.
"Good to see you again," Tkachuk told Trump, as the back-to-back Stanley Cup
champion was making his third White House trip in just over 12 months. For some
of the approximately 20 players who made the trip, this was a first.
Tkachuk, who won those Cups with the Florida Panthers, posted pictures on
social media of members of the team celebrating on what appears to be a U.S.
government plane and a group shot of them deplaning at Joint Base Andrews. The
team chartered into Miami on a flight from Italy on Monday, and then dined
together on Miami Beach and visited a nightclub where hundreds of fans clamored
to get inside. They were also given a heroes' welcome at Miami International
Airport.
"Our sport just got the biggest stage in the world of sport," Panthers general
manager Bill Zito, an assistant GM for the men's Olympic team, said Tuesday.
"That's wonderful. And we need to celebrate it."
___
AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this
report.
___
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
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