Trump Celebrates Team USA’s Olympic Hockey Victory, Extends White House Invitation

Milan, Italy – President Donald Trump congratulated the U.S. Men’s hockey team following their thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The win marked the first Olympic gold for the U.S. Men’s hockey team since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980.

Presidential Praise and a Potential Visit

Following the game on Sunday, President Trump reached out to the team via video call, expressing his pride and congratulating them on their achievement. “He just spoke to the group expressing how proud he was of the group and congratulating everybody on the win,” coach Mike Sullivan told reporters according to the New York Times. “Obviously this game, in a lot of ways, was an inspiration to our country.”

President Trump as well extended an invitation to the team to attend his upcoming State of the Union address, scheduled for Tuesday at the United States Capitol. The New York Times reported that team captain Auston Matthews indicated travel arrangements were still being finalized and a decision on accepting the invitation was pending.

A Game for the Nation

The gold medal game, won by a Jack Hughes goal in overtime, captivated audiences in the United States. Coach Sullivan noted the widespread viewership, stating, “I sense, from a viewership standpoint in the United States, there were a lot of people paying attention, the president included.” USA Today highlighted the celebratory atmosphere in the locker room immediately after the win, with players singing championship songs while awaiting the President’s call.

Previous Interactions and Rivalry with Canada

This isn’t the first time President Trump has engaged with the U.S. Men’s hockey team. In February 2025, he addressed many of the same players before their 4 Nations Face-Off championship game against Canada. The New York Times noted that this engagement coincided with a period when President Trump publicly discussed the possibility of adding Canada as the “51st state.”

The rivalry between the U.S. And Canada in men’s hockey has been particularly heightened, fueled in part by President Trump’s political rhetoric. Fox News reported that Trump’s comments helped reignite the competition between the two nations.

Team USA’s Return to the NHL

Following their Olympic triumph, players are preparing to rejoin their National Hockey League (NHL) teams, with the season resuming on Wednesday. Travel plans were initially disrupted by a storm impacting the northeastern United States, leading to a change in the team’s flight destination from New York’s JFK airport to Miami. USA Today reported on these travel adjustments.

Captain Auston Matthews emphasized the honor of representing the United States, stating, “We’re all proud Americans…To head home with a gold medal, you know how much that means to guys in this room, to people watching and rooting us on, too.”