Trump invites US men’s hockey team to attend State of the Union speech
Is this competence or optics?
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.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 23, 2026
“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 …
Is this competence or optics?
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.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 23, 2026
“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 …
Trump invites US men’s hockey team to attend State of the Union speech
Is this competence or optics?
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.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 23, 2026
“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 …
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