US Men's Hockey Team Visits White House Before State of the Union

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The U.S. men's Olympic hockey team, fresh off their gold medal win over Canada, visited President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday afternoon before attending his State of the Union address later that day. Videos and photos shared on social media showed the team posing for photos in front of the South Portico and walking through the West Wing, where they were welcomed by the President in the Oval Office.

Why it matters

The visit to the White House continues a tradition of championship sports teams meeting with the sitting president, though some teams have declined such invitations in recent years. The men's hockey team's gold medal victory was their first since the 'Miracle on Ice' in 1980, making the occasion especially significant.

The details

During the visit, the players showed off their gold medals to staffers in the press office, who applauded and cheered them on. In the Oval Office, President Trump greeted the players individually, remarking that he recognized them all. Some players, like Matthew Tkachuk, had visited the White House before after winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers.

• The team visited the White House on Tuesday afternoon, February 24, 2026.
• They were set to attend President Trump's State of the Union address later that same day.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The team is expected to attend President Trump's State of the Union address later on Tuesday evening.