Donald Trump opened his State of the Union address on Tuesday night with ice hockey at the forefront, greeting Team USA’s men’s squad in the chamber after their gold-medal win over Canada and indicating the women’s team would be heading to the White House soon.
During the speech, Trump applauded both sides for their performances at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, and said the women’s champions would be visiting in the near future—after his earlier remarks about inviting them had sparked debate.
The story began on Sunday, February 22, when Trump invited the men’s ice hockey team to attend the State of the Union following their last-stage victory against Canada at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
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“Unbelievable. You were all unbelievable. That team is pretty good you played,” Trump said in a phone call with the team.
The US leader continued: “I’ll tell you what – I just told my people two minutes ago. I said, we’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. We could send a military plane or something. But if you would like to [attend], it’s the coolest night.”
“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” Trump said, joking that he ‘probably would be impeached’.
In the end, the women’s team declined the State of the Union invite, pointing to travel and scheduling complications. The men’s side, however, accepted and attended Tuesday night’s address.
The players were introduced to a standing ovation, with the group visibly wearing their gold medals as Trump highlighted their win.
“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,” Trump said.
“They were in the oval office before, but I want to say a second very big congratulations to Team USA.”
Trump then singled out one player for special recognition, praising goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for his performance.
“I’ve never seen a goaltender play as well as Connor Hellebuyck,” Trump admitted. “46 shots on goal and I asked him: ‘The one shot, where you put your stick in the back and it hit the neck of your stick and bounced off, did you practice that or was it lucky?’”
“He refused to answer that question”
He added that, after sounding out the rest of the roster and saying they supported the idea, he intended to award Hellebuyck the nation’s top civilian distinction: the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“I just want to tell you, that the members of this great Hockey squad will be very happy to hear, based on their vote and my vote – and in this case my vote was more important – that I will soon be presenting Connor with the highest civilian honor,” he continued.
“It’s been given to many athletes over the years, but when I say ‘many’, not too many, like 12. The highest civilian honor in our country, the presidential medal of freedom.”