US men's hockey stars share gold medal moment with military members before White House visit

The U.S. men’s crystal hockey squad stopped to airs for photos with subject unit astatine Joint Base Andrews connected Tuesday up of their accomplishment astatine the White House and their expected attendance astatine the State of the Union address. 

The players landed successful Washington, D.C., conscionable aft 1 p.m. ET aft celebrating their historical golden medal triumph implicit Canada astatine the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics successful Miami the erstwhile night.

The U.S. men’s crystal hockey squad stops to instrumentality photos with members of the military, allowing them to airs with their golden medals, aft arriving astatine Joint Base Andrews connected Tuesday. (Fox News)

Several subject members lined up to greet Team USA, who were again spotted draping the American emblem implicit their shoulders. 

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The players past ran implicit to greet them, stopping for hugs, handshakes and photos. Several of the players were spotted giving their golden medals to the servicemen and women to deterioration successful photos earlier leaving to conscionable President Donald Trump successful the Oval Office.

New Jersey Devils prima Jack Hughes made headlines erstwhile sharing a patriotic connection aft his overtime extremity secured the golden medal for Team USA. 

"This is each astir our state close now. I emotion the USA. I emotion my teammates. It’s unbelievable. The U.S. are a hockey brotherhood. It’s truthful beardown and we had truthful overmuch enactment from ex-players. I’m truthful arrogant to beryllium American today," a toothless Hughes told the NBC broadcast instantly aft the game. 

Gold medalists Quinn Hughes and Jack Hughes of Team United States observe aft the Men's Gold Medal lucifer betwixt Canada and the United States connected time 16 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games astatine Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena connected Feb. 22, 2026, successful Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

NHL defenseman and Jack's brother, Quinn Hughes, continued that sentiment during an interrogation with NBC’s Mike Tirico, which was fixed arsenic the squad began their celebrations successful Italy.

"It’s truthful special, and I privation to convey our troops for allowing america to play this game. Thank our troops for allowing america to play this game."

Trump invited some the men’s and women’s golden medal teams to the White House and extended an invitation to the State of the Union address, but the women’s squad declined, citing docket conflicts.

President Donald Trump talks to members of the United States men's hockey squad astatine the White House successful Washington, D.C., connected Feb. 24, 2026. (Dan Scavino via X)

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In a video of the president’s telephone telephone with the men’s squad instantly aft their win, Trump said helium would "have" to invitation the women's team, different helium "probably would beryllium impeached." The players laughed successful effect to Trump's joke, causing immoderate backlash connected societal media. 

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