In alignment with the evening’s State of the Union address commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, President Donald Trump welcomed the U.S. Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team to the chamber to celebrate their recent gold-medal triumph at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
The team, proudly displaying their gold medals, stood in the gallery as the House floor erupted in “USA!” chants, with applause extending across the aisle, including from some Democratic members.
President Trump commended the entire squad for their exceptional resilience and tenacity, which culminated in a hard-fought 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in the gold-medal game. This marked the first Olympic gold for U.S. men’s hockey in 46 years, since the legendary 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”
“What special champions you are,” President Trump noted.
The President highlighted the pivotal contributions of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, whose outstanding performance, highlighted by 41 saves in the final, proved instrumental in securing the win. Trump praised Hellebuyck’s dedication and skill in thwarting Canada’s advances throughout the contest.
In recognition of his exemplary athletic achievement and service to the nation, President Trump announced his intention to award Connor Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor.
Trump humorously joked with the team, saying, “I just want to tell you that the members of this great hockey squad will be very happy to hear based on their vote, and my vote, and in this case my vote was more important, that I will soon be presenting Connor with our highest civilian honor… It’s called the highest civilian honor in our country, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”
This honor comes after the New York Times released a hit piece written by Jerry Brewer on the Men’s U.S. Olympic Team, stating:
“In normal times, this would be an obligatory cleebration for a championship team. They take presidential calls. They party too hard. They visit Washington and stroll through the corridors of power.
“But this isn’t a neutral climate. This isn’t a neutral president. And in a nation this polarized, the proximity carries weight whether the players are being intentional or merely naive. America no longer experiences these rituals in the same way, and it may never again. Athletes would be wise to recognize that, in this climate, celebration is easily repurposed into political capital.”
In an era when Democrats and much of the mainstream media are all too eager to downplay or ignore significant American victories, it is genuinely refreshing to see genuine honor bestowed where it is truly earned. Patriotism and unapologetic pride in our nation’s sports teams are too often sidelined or criticized amid today’s polarized political environment.
During the address, President Trump also looked ahead with optimism, alluding to the 2028 Summer Olympics set to take place in Los Angeles, California, another opportunity for the United States to shine on the world stage under renewed American leadership.
