Trump Wears US Men's Hockey Star's Gold Medal at White House

President Trump joked he wouldn't give the medal back after trying it on.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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President Donald Trump and members of the U.S. men's hockey team, including gold medalist Matthew Tkachuk, had a lighthearted interaction in the Oval Office ahead of the State of the Union address. Tkachuk asked Trump if he wanted to wear the gold medal, and Trump joked "I'm not giving it back." The team was invited to the White House to celebrate their gold medal win at the Winter Olympics.

Why it matters

The interaction between Trump and the hockey players highlights the tradition of championship teams visiting the White House, despite some political divisions. While the visit sparked criticism from some, the players expressed pride in representing the U.S. and being part of the historic occasion.

The details

During the Oval Office visit, Tkachuk asked Trump if he wanted to wear the gold medal, and Trump replied "Yeah, absolutely. I'm not giving it back." Tkachuk then joked he would trade the medal for a pen. Other players like Dylan Larkin and Jack Hughes also posed for photos with Trump at his desk. The team was invited to attend the State of the Union address later that evening.

  • The Oval Office visit took place on Tuesday, ahead of the State of the Union address.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who joked about not returning the gold medal to the hockey player.

Matthew Tkachuk

A U.S. men's hockey player who won the gold medal at the Winter Olympics and interacted with President Trump in the Oval Office.

Dylan Larkin

A U.S. men's hockey player who posed for a photo with President Trump in the Oval Office.

Jack Hughes

A U.S. men's hockey player who posed for a photo with President Trump in the Oval Office.

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What they’re saying

“Everything is so political. We're athletes. We're so proud to represent the U.S., and when you get the chance to go to the White House, meet the president, you know, we're proud to be Americans, that's so patriotic. No matter what your views are, we're super excited to go to the White House and just be part of that.”

— Jack Hughes (Instagram)

What’s next

The U.S. men's hockey team will attend the State of the Union address later on Tuesday evening to continue celebrating their gold medal victory.

The takeaway

Despite political divisions, the tradition of championship teams visiting the White House remains an important moment for athletes to celebrate their achievements and show pride in representing the United States.