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President Donald Trump introduced the members of the Olympic champion U.S. men’s hockey team during his State of the Union address Tuesday as proof that the country under his leadership is “winning so much.”
The team, which entered the chamber from the press gallery, got a standing ovation from both Republicans and Democrats. Trump joked that it was the “first time I’ve ever seen them [Democrats] get up.”
“But they beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime, as everybody saw,” Trump said of the men’s team. “As did the American women, who will soon be coming to the White House.”
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Trump separately announced that he would award Connor Hellebuyck, the team’s goaltender, who backstopped the team to a gold-medal victory in Sunday’s 2-1 win over rival Canada, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Trump said he had “never seen a goaltender play as well as” Hellebuyck, who made 41 saves in the clinching game.
“What a special job you did,” Trump said. “What special champions you are.”
Team members were spotted Tuesday night in the Capitol for photos with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who promised that lawmakers would find a way to “squeeze in” the team for Trump’s speech.
Earlier Tuesday, the players met with Trump in the Oval Office and posed for a photo with their medals in front of the White House, according to photos and video posted by White House communications adviser Margo Martin.
Twenty members of the team were at the White House (all but Brock Nelson, Jackson LaCombe, Jake Oettinger, Jake Guentzel and Kyle Connor). NHL games resume Wednesday.
The administration had been working through logistics so the players could attend Trump’s speech, a White House official said.
Trump invited the players Sunday after they won the Olympic gold medal in an overtime victory against Canada. On a phone call with the players, he joked that he would be impeached if he did not also invite the women’s team. The U.S. women’s hockey team, which also won gold, declined the invitation Monday, citing scheduling conflicts.
Johnson said Trump called him Sunday night to say he wanted the hockey team to attend the speech — a request that presented logistical hurdles because, as Johnson told Trump, the gallery, where guests sit, was already full.
“We’re going to work out logistics, and somehow, some way, we’ll squeeze in the hockey players tonight, and it’ll be a great moment for America,” Johnson told reporters Tuesday. “And it really is a symbol to all of us that we all play for America’s team.”
The House chamber, where the speech takes place, is typically packed with lawmakers, top officials and guests. The president, the first lady and members of Congress bring guests who highlight their political and policy priorities. Trump also invited Erika Kirk, the widow of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, and the parents of Sarah Beckstrom, the 20-year-old National Guard member who was shot and killed in Washington, D.C., last year.
Ellen Hughes, the mother of men’s team players Jack and Quinn Hughes and a player development consultant for the U.S. women’s hockey team, was asked about Trump’s impeachment comments in an interview with NBC’s “TODAY” show.
“I think at the end of the day, it’s just about the country and the moment that these players, both the men and women, can bring so much unity to a group and to a country,” she said.
Monica Alba is a White House correspondent for NBC News.
Megan Lebowitz is a politics reporter for NBC News.
Kyle Stewart is a producer and off-air reporter covering Congress for NBC News, managing coverage of the House.
Lizzie Jensen is an intern for NBC News on Capitol Hill.
Allan Smith is a political reporter for NBC News.
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