Trump Congratulates US Olympic Hockey Team, Invites Them to State of the Union

President Donald Trump congratulated the United States men’s Olympic hockey team following their 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in Milan on Sunday, extending an invitation to the team to attend his State of the Union address on Tuesday.

Presidential Praise and Invitation

Following the gold medal win, President Trump connected with the team via FaceTime, expressing his pride and congratulating them on their achievement. “Unbelievable. You were all unbelievable. That team is pretty good you played,” Trump said in a video shared from the locker room according to the New York Times. He too extended an invitation for the team to attend the State of the Union address at the US Capitol.

Coach Mike Sullivan confirmed the call, stating, “The players just had the president on – I don’t know what it was, what do you call it? FaceTime? Whatever – in the locker room,” as reported by Sporting News. “So he just spoke to the group, expressing how proud he was of the group and congratulating everybody on the win.”

Travel Considerations and NHL Resumption

Team captain Auston Matthews indicated the team was considering the invitation but faced logistical challenges with travel arrangements and the upcoming resumption of the NHL season on Wednesday. “I think there’s a lot of moving parts as far as our travels back home, but we’ll kind of see what happens,” The Guardian reported.

FBI Director’s Presence and Locker Room Celebration

The celebration included a visit from FBI Director Kash Patel, who had been in Milan since Thursday. Videos circulating on social media showed Patel joining the team in the locker room, celebrating with the players. His presence drew some criticism from former officials, according to The Guardian.

Previous Interactions and Political Undertones

This wasn’t the first time President Trump had interacted with the team. He previously addressed many of the same players before the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game last year, a period marked by tensions with Canada. The president also referenced the US women’s hockey team’s recent gold medal win, stating the need to include them in any celebrations.

Trump’s Social Media Reaction

Immediately after the win, President Trump posted a congratulatory message on his Truth Social account. The White House’s official X account also responded to a congratulatory message from former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with an image depicting a bald eagle attacking a Canadian goose.