U.S. Men's Hockey Team Visits White House After Olympic Gold

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The United States' gold-medal-winning men's Olympic hockey team traveled to Washington, D.C., after their 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in Milan Cortina. They met with President Donald Trump at the White House before heading to the State of the Union address that evening, marking a high-profile moment at the intersection of sports and politics.

Why it matters

The visit has sparked strong opinions on both sides about the symbolism and implications of athletes visiting the White House after a championship run, with some calling for the tradition to be updated to reflect a broader range of athletes and perspectives.

The details

The team flew on a chartered plane to Miami on Monday night and then proceeded to the capital on Tuesday morning. Footage and photos from the White House visit circulated on social media, showing the players posing in front of the South Portico and walking along the West Wing colonnade. Upon approaching the Oval Office, several players paused to show their medals in the open doorway of the press office, prompting cheers from staffers.

• The U.S. men's hockey team won the gold medal in an overtime victory over Canada in Milan Cortina.
• The team traveled to Washington, D.C., and met with President Trump at the White House on April 9, 2026.
• The team then attended the State of the Union address that evening.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The visit has sparked debate about the tradition of athletes visiting the White House, with some calling for it to be updated to reflect a broader range of perspectives.