Auston Matthews reflects on Olympic gold, White House visit

The Maple Leafs captain discusses the aftermath of the U.S. men's hockey team's triumph at the 2026 Olympics.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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After visiting the White House and meeting with President Donald Trump, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews said he hopes the U.S. Olympic hockey gold medal victory can 'bring more unity to the country.' Matthews captained the United States to its first gold medal in men's hockey since 1980, but the team has faced scrutiny for accepting the White House invitation and Trump's comments about also inviting the U.S. women's hockey team, who declined to attend.

Why it matters

Matthews' comments provide insight into the complex political dynamics surrounding the U.S. Olympic hockey team's victory and subsequent White House visit, which has sparked debate about the role of sports in national unity and the relationship between athletes and political figures.

The details

Matthews said he believes accepting the White House invitation is something teams that win championships typically do, regardless of political beliefs. He also expressed support for the U.S. women's hockey team, who declined the invitation, and said the focus should be on the historic accomplishments of both the men's and women's teams.

  • On Tuesday, Matthews visited the White House and met with President Donald Trump.
  • On Wednesday, Matthews spoke to the media before the Maple Leafs' game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The players

Auston Matthews

The captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the U.S. men's Olympic hockey team that won the gold medal in 2026.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States at the time of the U.S. men's Olympic hockey team's gold medal victory.

U.S. women's hockey team

The U.S. women's hockey team that also won a gold medal at the 2026 Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“The team that wins the Stanley Cup every year accepts the White House invitation to go. So I just think it is something that you do because we are proud Americans, whatever your political beliefs may be.”

— Auston Matthews (nytimes.com)

“Hopefully, something like this will hopefully bring more unity to the country and stuff like that. But for us, we believe it's a great honour no matter who's in office.”

— Auston Matthews (nytimes.com)

“It was unfortunate. We love the women's team. We support them. The night we won the gold medal, we were hanging out in the dining hall until like three, four in the morning. It's unfortunate that occurred. We have nothing but love and respect for the women's team and what they were able to accomplish.”

— Auston Matthews (nytimes.com)

What’s next

The Maple Leafs will need Matthews to be at his best as they fight for a playoff spot in the final 25 games of the season.

The takeaway

Matthews' comments highlight the complex political and social dynamics surrounding the U.S. Olympic hockey team's victory, underscoring the role of sports in national unity and the challenges athletes face in navigating political landscapes.