Trump Extends State of the Union Invitation to U.S. Men's Hockey Champions
U.S. President Donald Trump has personally congratulated the American men's hockey team for their dramatic gold-medal victory over Canada at the Olympic Games and extended a formal invitation for them to attend Tuesday's State of the Union address in Washington D.C. as special guests of honour.
A Historic Victory and Presidential Recognition
The United States secured their third Olympic men's hockey title, marking their first championship in 46 years since the legendary "Miracle on Ice" team of 1980. The thrilling overtime victory was sealed by Jack Hughes' decisive goal, while goaltender Connor Hellebuyck delivered a spectacular performance, stopping 41 of the 42 shots he faced against the Canadian team.
In a celebratory phone call to the team's locker room, President Trump expressed his admiration for their achievement. "Unbelievable. You were all unbelievable. That team is pretty good you played," Trump told the athletes during the emotional post-victory moment.
Presidential Invitation and Transportation Offer
The president went beyond mere congratulations, formally inviting the team to Tuesday night's State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol. Trump suggested the possibility of providing military transportation for the athletes, noting "we could send a military plane or something" to facilitate their attendance.
"The nice thing about being president is I can tell you, you don't have to worry about the weather or landing," Trump added during the call. "We don't care if it's snowing or if it's the worst blizzard, you'll be sailing through that sucker just like you did on the ice today."
The president also hinted at a potential White House celebration following the congressional address, promising medals for the championship team.
Team Response and Scheduling Challenges
U.S. team captain Auston Matthews, who also serves as captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, indicated that the team had not yet determined whether they could accept the presidential invitation. "We're all proud Americans, obviously, and this is a huge moment for us," Matthews stated. "He called and just congratulated us. 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 timing presents logistical challenges as the National Hockey League season resumes on Wednesday, requiring players to return to their professional teams promptly.
Women's Team Declines Invitation
In a separate development, the gold medal-winning U.S. women's hockey team has declined President Trump's invitation to attend the State of the Union address. According to NBC reports, the team cited previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Olympic Games.
A USA Hockey spokesperson explained: "We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning U.S. Women's Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement. Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate."
The spokesperson emphasized that the women's team was "honoured to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment" of their Olympic success.
Presidential Praise for Goaltending Excellence
President Trump concluded his locker room call with special recognition for goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, whose exceptional performance was instrumental in securing the gold medal victory. "I'm going to shake hands with everybody, but I've got to shake hands with that goalie," Trump remarked, highlighting the critical role played by the Winnipeg Jets netminder in the championship game.
The presidential invitation marks a significant moment of recognition for American hockey, coming nearly five decades after the country's last Olympic men's hockey gold medal triumph.
