Canadian media reaction to the United States men’s hockey team’s gold medal victory continues to intensify, with one prominent podcaster unleashing a profanity-laced tirade over the team’s White House visit and acceptance of President Trump’s invitation to the State of the Union.
During a recent episode of The Steve Dangle Podcast, host Steve Dangle criticized American players for appearing at the White House following their championship win. Dangle referenced President Trump’s past joking remark about Canada becoming the 51st state, framing the comment as a threat to Canadian sovereignty.
Dangle specifically called out several American NHL players, including Auston Matthews, Brady Tkachuk, Connor Hellebuyck, and Quinn Hughes, for shaking hands with administration officials. He also mentioned White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in his remarks.
President Trump invited both the men’s and women’s teams to Washington after their Olympic victories, praising their performance and joking during a locker-room call that failing to invite the women’s team might lead to impeachment. The men’s win marked America’s first Olympic gold medal in hockey since the historic 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”
The heated reaction highlights broader tensions between segments of Canadian media and President Trump, whose tough rhetoric on trade and national sovereignty has frequently drawn criticism north of the border. Trump’s comments about Canada becoming the 51st state have consistently been delivered in a tongue-in-cheek manner during rallies and public appearances.
While political disagreements between the two allied nations are not new, the emotional response from some Canadian commentators underscores how deeply sports and politics can intersect during moments of national pride.
The American players have not publicly responded to the podcast remarks. The White House visit proceeded as planned, celebrating what administration officials described as a major achievement for American athletics.
