Team USA The Olympic gold hockey team visits President Trump at the White House
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Team USA’s Olympic gold medalist hockey team arrived at the White House for a meeting with President Donald Trump on Tuesday, as the players are expected to attend Trump’s State of the Union address.
The team made history with their 2-1 overtime win over Team Canada at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in the gold medal game on Sunday. New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes scored the golden goal to bring the US its first men’s gold medal since the 1980 Miracle on Ice team.
Canada has historically been the best Olympic hockey team in history, with a world-leading nine gold medals. Sunday’s win avenged Canada’s loss in the NHL’s 4 Nations Face Off exhibition earlier in 2025, which came amid tensions between the two countries over Trump’s tax policy.
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Trump called the players after Sunday’s win, congratulating and thanking them during a locker room celebration.
Trump told the men’s delegation after inviting them on Tuesday State of the Union that he “must” invite a group of women, otherwise “I will probably be charged.” The players laughed in response to Trump’s joke.
Video of the exchange has gone viral, with some women’s hockey fans criticizing Trump and the male players for undermining the women’s team’s gold medal win, which was also tied with Canada. A women’s group has declined Trump’s invitation to Washington, citing scheduling conflicts.
Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski opened up about where their American pride comes from as they celebrated their success at the Olympics.
President Donald Trump talks with members of the US men’s hockey team at the White House in Washington, District of Columbia, on Feb. 24, 2026. (Dan Scavino via X)
Larkin and Werenski appeared on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday morning, hours after celebrating their gold medal win against Canada in Miami. The two opened up about what it means to them to represent the Stars and Stripes.
“I think a lot of us played in the US National Team Development Program … When we’re there, you get to put on a jersey every day for two years, before you get drafted. We’re trained. We’re not soldiers by any means but they put us through some training, and they instill in you some pride,” Larkin said. “Once you get past that, you take the sweater off … and every time you take it off, for me at least, I don’t know when I’m going to put it on again.
“So, every time I get a chance to represent the United States of America, I put that jersey on, I go in. I love doing it, and it’s special. I could go on all day about how great our country is. Just being home and seeing our friends and family, it’s just special.”
Werenski was asked if playing in other countries makes him proud to be an American.
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Jack Hughes (86), of the United States, who scored the winning overtime goal, celebrates after defeating Canada in the ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
“I think he is visible. I remember that my first World Championships with him were in Slovakia. I went to Denmark, I went to the Czech (Republic) – all beautiful countries, and he plays in them, and it’s great. The Olympics were in Italy, an unbelievable country,” he said. “You’re reminded how great the United States of America is when you come back here. And we love to represent our country, we love to wear those colors.
“Like Dylan said, we learn about it from a young age. We’re allowed to fulfill our dream because of the military – the people who serve, the first responders. It’s just an amazing country. It’s the most beautiful country in the world, and we love to wear these colors, and you definitely get an appreciation for it when you go overseas and play.”
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