The USA Men’s Hockey Team gets a standing ovation during the State of the Union address

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team visited President Donald Trump at the White House Tuesday afternoon and later received a nearly two-minute bipartisan standing ovation during that night’s State of the Union address.

Trump also announced that the women’s hockey team, which also defeated Canada to win the gold medal, would visit the White House “soon.” The women’s team had declined an invitation to attend the State of the Union address due to the timing of the speech.

He watches: Trump introduces the Olympic gold medal-winning US men’s hockey team

The men’s players entered the House chamber through two sets of doors and walked down the rows of the press gallery. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle not only stood and cheered, they chanted “USA!” Several times, several of them even pumped their fists. Rep. Lisa McClain, chair of the House Republican Conference, shouted, “I love you!” For players.

“I want to thank you all,” Trump told the players. “What a special job you have done. What special heroes you are.”

Trump also said goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped 41 shots in the gold medal game, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Hellebuyck tapped his heart as those in the hall applauded.

Videos and photos shared by Trump administration aides on social media showed hockey players posing for a photo in front of the South Portico. They walked along the columns of the West Wing where Trump posted photos of each US president and just steps from the Oval Office, where they were greeted by Trump.

Auston Matthews No. 34 of Team USA celebrates after the game against Team Canada during the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics at Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Photo by Jeff Burke-Imagine Images

As they approached the Oval Office, some players entered the open door of the press office to drop off medals following their 2-1 overtime win over Canada on Sunday at the Milano-Cortina Olympics. It was the first gold medal for the Americans in men’s hockey since the “Miracle on Ice” in Lake Placid, New York, in 1980.

The staff clapped and shouted, “We love you!”

“I know every single one of you. I know every single one of you,” Trump said as the players entered the Oval Office, which he had redecorated with numerous gold decorations that matched the players’ medals.

“Big guys,” he said, standing near his desk and shaking hands with the players, who were wearing dark T-shirts with the word “USA,” the American flag and Olympic rings on the front, and light-colored pants.

After their victory, a video circulated on social media showed Trump inviting the team on a phone call in the locker room, and he also joked that he would also have to invite the women’s team. After the president announced that women would soon get a visit to the White House, the male players gave thumbs-up signs while watching from above.

For forward Matthew Tkachuk, the trip to the White House has become a regular visit.

“It’s good to see you again,” Tkachuk told Trump, as the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion made his third trip to the White House in just over 12 months. For some of the 20 players who made the trip, it was their first time.

Read more: The gold-medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey team declined Trump’s invitation to attend the State of the Union address

Tkachuk, who won those Cups with the Florida Panthers, posted photos on social media of team members celebrating on what appeared to be a US government plane and a group shot of them disembarking at Joint Base Andrews. The team chartered to Miami on a flight from Italy on Monday, then dined together in Miami Beach and visited a nightclub where hundreds of fans jostled to get inside. They were also given a hero’s welcome at Miami International Airport.

“Our sport has been given the biggest stage in the world of sports,” Bill Zito, the Panthers’ general manager and assistant general manager of the Olympic team, said Tuesday. “This is wonderful. We should celebrate it.”

AP White House correspondent Seung-Min Kim and AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this report.

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