WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The Olympic U.S. men鈥檚 hockey team visited President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday afternoon and later received about a two-minute bipartisan standing ovation during his address that night.
Trump also announced that the women’s hockey team, which also , will 鈥渟oon鈥� visit the White House. The women鈥檚 team had to attend the State of the Union due to the timing of the address.
Men’s players entered the House chamber through two sets of doors and walked down the rows of the press gallery. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle not only stood and cheered but chanted 鈥淯SA!鈥� several times, many even pumping fists. Rep. Lisa McClain, the Republican House Conference Chair, shouted 鈥淟ove you!鈥� to the players.
鈥淚 want to thank you all,鈥� Trump told the players. 鈥淲hat a special job you did. What special champions you are.”
Trump also said goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who in the gold medal game, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Hellebuyck tapped his heart as those in the chamber applauded.
Videos and photos shared on social media by Trump administration aides showed the hockey players posing for a photograph in front of the South Portico. They walked along the West Wing colonnade where Trump has posted portraits of every U.S. president just steps away from the Oval Office, where they were welcomed by Trump.
As they approached the Oval Office, some of the players popped into the press office鈥檚 open door to flash the medals from their 2-1 overtime win over Canada on Sunday at the . It was the Americans鈥� first gold medal in men鈥檚 hockey since the 鈥淢iracle on Ice鈥� in Lake Placid, New York, in 1980.
Staffers applauded and shouted, 鈥淲e love you!鈥�
鈥淚 recognize every one of you. I know every one of you,鈥� Trump said as the players entered the Oval Office, which with numerous flourishes of gold that matched the players鈥� medals.
鈥淏ig guys,鈥� he said, standing near his desk and shaking hands with the players, who wore dark tops with 鈥淯SA,鈥� the American flag and the Olympic rings on the front and light-colored pants.
After their victory, a video that circulated on social media appeared to show Trump inviting the team on a phone call in the locker room, as he joked that he鈥檇 also have to invite the women鈥檚 team. After the president announced the women soon would receive a White House visit, the men’s players made thumbs-up gestures while watching from up high.
For forward Matthew Tkachuk, the trip to the White House was becoming a regular visit.
鈥淕ood to see you again,鈥� Tkachuk told Trump, as the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion made his third White House trip in just over 12 months. For some of the approximately 20 players who made the trip, this was a first.
Tkachuk, who won those Cups with the Florida Panthers, posted pictures of members of the team celebrating on what appears to be a U.S. government plane and a group shot of them deplaning at Joint Base Andrews. The team chartered into Miami on a flight from Italy on Monday, and then dined together in Miami Beach and visited a nightclub where hundreds of fans clamored to get inside. They were also given a heroes鈥� welcome at Miami International Airport.
鈥淥ur sport just got the biggest stage in the world of sport,鈥� Panthers general manager Bill Zito, an assistant GM for the Olympic team, said Tuesday. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 wonderful. And we need to celebrate it.鈥�
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AP White House reporter Seung Min Kim and AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this report.
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