U.S. men’s hockey team players arrived in the House Chamber for President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.
Trump introduced the team and they received a round of applause from those in attendance. They wore "USA" sweaters with their gold medals around their necks.
Members of the United States' Olympic hockey team attend as President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
The chamber broke out in "U-S-A" chants.
"They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime as everybody saw, as did the American women who will soon be coming to the White House," he said.
During the address, Trump said he would honor goaltenderConnor Hellebuyckwith the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Some players were unable to go with NHL commitments about to ramp up again. But others were in Washington to visit the president at the White House before the event began. Players came to D.C. from Miami after they celebrated their gold medal victory at the Winter Olympics.
Several gold medalists took photos with Trump. Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk even let the president wear his gold medal in a lighthearted moment in the Oval Office.
Connor Hellebuyck seen after President Donald Trump announces he will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
"I’m not giving it back," the president joked.
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