It’s enough to make a bald eagle cry.
The US men’s hockey team is at the White House today celebrating their win over Team Canada on Sunday to bring home the gold medal for the first time in nearly 50 years.
And it looks like they’re having a heck of a time.
Things got started when President Donald Trump sent a government plane to pick them up in Miami:
And it looks like the plane, one of the aircraft generally used as Air Force Two for Vice President JD Vance, was fully stocked for their arrival, with the boys downing beers while en route to Washington and goalie Connor Hellebuyck even showing off a medallion with his new honorary title as Secretary of Defense.
What a scene.
After landing at Joint Base Andrews and heading to the White House, the team posted for a quick group photo on the front lawn:
Then they headed into the Oval Office to meet with the president – as “Free Bird” blasted throughout the White House colonnade.
Once they got into the Oval Office, Matthew Tkachuk even let President Trump try on his gold medal – joking that he was willing to trade it for a presidential pen when Trump informed him that he wouldn’t be giving the medal back:
I mean, how can you not love this?
Of course there are some people who aren’t happy about the visit, after the team…laughed at a joke the president made during his phone call after the game.
I’m sure it’s all over your timeline by now, but in case you’re not familiar, here’s the short version:
While celebrating with the team in the locker room, FBI Director Kash Patel called up the president to speak to the team. During the call, he invited the boys to the White House and the State of the Union address tonight, while also making a joke about having to invite the women’s team too because he would be “impeached” if he didn’t:
“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that. I do believe I probably would be impeached.”
(This was after he also made a joke about goalie Connor Hellebuyck playing “not bad.”)
Well naturally the loudest voices on the far left are outraged that the men’s team laughed at the joke instead of lecturing the president on identity politics while throwing back beers. And though the women’s team was invited to the White House, they released a statement announcing that they would be declining the invitation, blaming it on scheduling issues:
“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement. Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.
They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
It’s a shame that they weren’t there with the men’s team today, because both teams deserve to be celebrated for their gold medals…and it looks like the boys had a hell of a time.
The team will also be in attendance tonight as the president delivers his State of the Union address, which no doubt won’t be as much fun as the rest of their day…but maybe they can figure out how to sneak a couple cold ones into the Capitol to help them get through it.
