During President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech Tuesday night, he stopped to honor the U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team for their recent victory, telling the team to enter the room.
The team was met with a huge round of applause, as everyone except for a few Democrats stood to their feet and cheered.
Trump also announced that the U.S. women’s hockey team will also soon be coming to the White House.
OUR COUNTRY IS WINNING AGAIN!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM USA GOLD MEDAL HOCKEY TEAMS! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Il7Ggz0O9q
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 25, 2026
Trump then dropped a surprise announcement, saying he will be awarding the “highest civilian honor,” the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to U.S. men’s Olympic goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
More from Fox News: “I will soon be presenting Connor with our highest civilian honor, which we will be given and which has been given to many athletes over the years,” said Trump. “It’s called the highest civilian honor in our country, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”
“Great athletes have gotten that very great, the best. And I thought he deserved it,” the president added.
Trump said that during the victorious Olympic team’s visit to the Oval Office they took a vote of whether to give Hellebuyck the medal or not.
“I said, ‘I’m not giving it if anybody votes no.’ And every single one of them rapidly put up their hand. So, I want to thank you all. What a special job you did. What special champions you are. Thank you very much,” said Trump.
.@POTUS announces that Team USA Gold Medal Hockey hero Connor Hellebuyck will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ukNLhjSmoh
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 25, 2026
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING MOMENT.
President Trump welcomes the USA hockey team to the State of the Union.
America is the greatest country in the world. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/OaOU5Km1Vk
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 25, 2026
At least half of the Democrats remained seated for our Gold Medal winning USA hockey team.pic.twitter.com/gDsEu5V3xz
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 25, 2026
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