U.S. men's hockey team stops by White House

WASHINGTON — 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!”

Team USA in the Oval Office! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Nq3OURxK5k

— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) February 24, 2026

“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.”