Trump invites US men’s hockey team to attend State of the Union speech
The Washington Examiner reports that after the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team defeated Canada to win gold—their first since 1980—the team was joined in celebrations by FBI Director Kash Patel, who connected them to President Donald Trump. In a video posted by the White House Rapid Response account, Patel placed Trump’s call on speakerphone so the players could hear as the president offered his congratulations and praise, particularly to goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Trump then proposed arranging travel to the State of the Union address on Tuesday night, joking about weather and promising to use a military plane if needed. The players indicated they were “in,” asking about a Miami pickup on Tuesday.Though, logistics, including travel back from Italy amid a winter storm and the NHL schedule resuming, could prevent attendance, with captain Auston Matthews noting the uncertainties.The piece also notes that Kash Patel defended the Olympics trip after footage surfaced of him partying with the team.
Trump invites US men’s hockey team to attend State of the Union speech
The United States men’s Olympic hockey team defeated Canada 2-1 on Sunday to win its first gold medal at the Games since 1980, the year of the oft-celebrated “Miracle on Ice.” During locker room celebrations, the team was joined by FBI Director Kash Patel, a known hockey enthusiast and club hockey player in northern Virginia. In the midst of the postgame celebratory festivities, Patel connected the team to a guy from New York who wanted to speak to them about their victory: President Donald Trump.
In a video posted on X by the official White House rapid response account, Rapid Response 47, Patel was seen placing Trump’s call on speakerphone so he could congratulate the entire team. He started by heaping praise on U.S. Hockey goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
“By the way, your goalie played not bad,” Trump said as the players roared in response. Someone in the video is heard encouraging Hellebuyck to respond to the president.
“How ya doing, Don?” he said.
“I have seen hockey goalies have slightly worse games,” Trump said. “ Unbelievable. And you were all unbelievable. And that team is pretty good, you played.”
Trump then extended the invite as Patel kept holding the phone is hand so the players could hear.
“You know, I’ll tell you what, I just told my people two minutes ago,” Trump said. “We’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. I can send a military plane or something, but if you would like to, it’s the coolest night, it’s the biggest speech…”
“We’re in,” someone was heard saying.
“Yeah, we’re there,” replied another.
“Yeah,” said a different player.
“Can you pick us up in Miami on Tuesday morning?” someone else asked.
“We’ll get Kash, and we’ll get the military to get you guys over,” Trump said.
“You boys are going to the State of the Union,” Patel said.
The president then joked around a bit with the team and said he would ensure they could get to the State of the Union, regardless of the weather.
“The nice thing about being president is I can tell you, you don’t have to worry about the weather or landing,” Trump said, as the entire team laughed in response.
“We don’t care if it’s snowing or the worst blizzard, you’ll be sailing through that sucker just like you did on the ice tonight,” Trump said.
“Thank you, Mr. President,” someone responded.
Trump then reissued congratulations and reiterated how proud the team should be of themselves about the victory. He said it was something they were going to remember for a long time.
“Congratulations, that was an unbelievable game,” Trump said. “Everybody that called me said I’m watching the hockey game. I don’t know anybody that wasn’t. And you’re going to be proud of the game for 50 years as you grow older.”
PATEL DEFENDS OLYMPICS TRIP AFTER FOOTAGE SHOWS HIM PARTYING WITH US HOCKEY TEAM
“We love you guys. Congratulations, and I hope to see you,” Trump said.
“I want to shake hands with everybody, but I got to shake hands with that goalie!” Trump said.
“We’ll see you Tuesday night, Mr. President,” one of the players responded.
However, it remains uncertain if the team will be in attendance. Traveling from Italy back to the U.S., as the East Coast deals with a strong winter storm, and the NHL season resumes on Wednesday, could complicate matters. U.S. Captain Auston Matthews was noncommittal about being able to attend. Logistics, not lack of enthusiasm, was the main challenge.
“I think there’s a lot of moving parts as far as our travels back home,” said Matthews. “We’ll see what happens.”
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