President Trump welcomes US men’s hockey team to White House
President Donald Trump welcomed the 2026 Olympic gold medal winning U.S. men’s hockey team to the White House ahead of the State of the Union address.
NHL players returned to team practice on February 25th as the NHL prepares to resume the regular season.
Jeremy Swayman, a backup on the U.S. men’s ice hockey team that won gold in Milan-Cortina, rejoined the Boston Bruins on Wednesday after traveling to Washington, D.C., visiting the White House and attending the State of the Union address with most of his teammates.
During Wednesday’s media availability, Swayman was asked about the team’s reaction to President Donald Trump’s comments about the U.S. women’s ice hockey team, which also won a gold medal.
Swayman expressed support for the U.S. women’s team, saying the U.S. men’s team “should have reacted differently.”
“Yes, I should have reacted differently,” Swayman told reporters. “I know we are very excited about the women’s team. We have so much respect for the women’s team and being able to share the gold medal with them is something we will be forever grateful for.”
He added, “Now that we’re back home, we can see that we’ll be sharing it together forever and sharing this great gold medal with great support from the United States.”
What did President Trump say about the women’s ice hockey team?
FBI Director Kash Patel also celebrated with the U.S. men’s ice hockey team after they defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal in Milan. President Trump encouraged the gold medal winners to send messages of congratulations.
“What’s really cool? Next time we’ll do it at the White House. Just have fun. You’ve got medals,” Trump said on the phone call. “And we have to bring a girls team, you know that?”
He continued: “I believe I would probably be impeached” if the women’s team was not invited.
Members of the U.S. men’s ice hockey team chuckled at this comment. Their reaction received backlash from supporters of the women’s team.
Men’s team responds to backlash
Jack Hughes, the hero of the U.S. men’s ice hockey team who scored the goal in overtime to give the United States the gold medal, was also asked about his reaction.
“People are so negative about things. I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support (the women’s team) and how proud we are of them. And I know they feel about us the same way we feel about them,” Hughes said.
Swayman apologized for the men’s behavior.
But he called the visit to the White House “an incredible honor.”
“It was an incredible honor at the White House. We were all there to represent our country and celebrate America’s gold medal,” Swayman said. “That’s something we really represent and we’re really grateful to be a part of.”
