President Donald Trump Welcomes U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey Team Ahead Of State Of The Union

President Donald Trump welcomed the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team at the White House on Tuesday after their 2-1 overtime victory over Canada at the Milan–Cortina Games.

“Updated on: February 24, 2026 / 5:20 PM EST/ CBS News Washington —Thegold-medal-winningU”

CBS News

The win was the nation’s first men’s Olympic hockey gold since 1980.

CBS News

The team landed in Washington and visited the South Portico, walked the West Wing colonnade and met the president in the Oval Office ahead of his State of the Union address.

Photos and videos of about 20 players showing their medals circulated on social media.

Several accounts say Trump invited the team by phone from the locker room after the win.

The men’s visit came after overnight travel and a flight to Joint Base Andrews.

Photographs and videos released by administration aides and posted by players show the team posing on the South Portico.

They toured the West Wing colonnade.

ESPN

They greeted Trump in the Oval Office.

Staffers applauded as the president shook hands and congratulated the players.

Newsweek reports Trump "tried on Matthew Tkachuk’s medal and made lighthearted remarks."

Newsday and KSAT highlight staff applause and the Oval Office’s gold accents matching the players’ medals.

Forward Matthew Tkachuk’s social posts documenting travel and arrival were noted by multiple outlets.

Outlets differ in how specifically they report on the team's travel and White House logistics.

CBS News reports the Air Force confirmed the team 'flew to Joint Base Andrews on a Boeing C-32 assigned to the 89th Airlift Wing at the president’s request' and emphasized the 'planning and readiness required for such a mission.'

Mint and Newsweek say the team 'landed at Joint Base Andrews' after overnight travel and celebrated aboard a 'government aircraft.'

Hindustan Times says they 'traveled via chartered plane,' and some outlets use more generic language, which creates a contradiction with outlets like CBS that provide a specific aircraft model.

Sources diverge on whether the players were confirmed to attend the State of the Union as gallery guests.

Washington Examiner states the team 'will attend Trump’s State of the Union that night as special guests.'

Hindustan Times

KSAT and Newsday say the visit occurred 'before attending his State of the Union.'

CBS News reports the invitation prompted 'logistical scrambling,' with House Speaker Mike Johnson saying he would 'somehow' find room.

Newsweek quotes Captain Auston Matthews saying the team was still 'sorting logistics and had not committed' to attending the address.

These accounts conflict: some outlets report a confirmed attendance, while Newsweek quotes Matthews saying the team had not committed.

The framing and tone differ by outlet type.

“Associated Press Thegold-medal-winningU”

KSAT

Western mainstream outlets (Newsweek, CBS News, Newsday, KSAT) focus on the historic sporting achievement, the players' arrival and logistical details.

KSAT

Asian outlets (Mint, Hindustan Times) emphasize the historical parallel to 1980's 'Miracle on Ice' and national fanfare.

The Western alternative Washington Examiner adopts a promotional, celebratory framing, noting the colonnade refashioning and music in the White House video.

These differences show how source selection shapes narrative emphasis - from logistic specifics to historical context to political pageantry.