President Donald Trump has invited the U.S. men’s hockey team to Tuesday’s State of the Union address after their historic Olympic gold medal victory over Canada.
The invitation came via speakerphone in the team’s locker room on Sunday, marking the first U.S. men’s hockey Olympic gold since the 1980s “Miracle on Ice.”
FBI Director Kash Patel held the phone up as Trump delivered his message to the celebrating players.
“I’ll tell you what. I just told my people two minutes ago, I didn’t know they’d be calling, I said we’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night,” Trump said, Fox 4 KDFW reported.
The President offered military transport for the team. “I can send a military plane or something, but if you would like to, it’s the coolest night, it’s the biggest speech…”
One player cut off Trump, saying, “We’re in.”
“We’ll get Kash, and we’ll get the military to get you guys over,” Trump continued. “You won’t have to worry about the weather or landing. We don’t care if it’s snowing or if it’s the worst blizzard – we’ll be sailing through like you did on the ice.”
The team’s 2-1 overtime victory against Canada ended a 46-year Olympic gold drought.
Jack Hughes scored the winning goal despite losing teeth from a stick to the mouth earlier in the game.
The victory carried emotional weight beyond the scoreboard. Johnny Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey hung in the U.S. locker room throughout the Olympics.
Gaudreau, an elite NHL player expected to make the Olympic roster, died in August 2024. He and his brother Matthew were struck by an SUV while cycling in New Jersey.
Team captains Dylan Larkin and Matthew Tkachuk carried Gaudreau’s jersey around the ice after the win. Gaudreau’s children, 3-year-old Noa and 2-year-old Johnny Jr., joined the team’s celebration photo.
“He obviously would have been on this team — and been a huge part of it,” forward J.T. Miller said, Fox 4 reported. “A guy I grew up with and against and knew pretty well. It’s more than hockey, at that point. … He deserved better, and he had a big part in how things went down today.”
The State of the Union address is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT on Tuesday in Washington.