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The U.S. men’s ice hockey team stopped to pose for photos with service members at Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday, ahead of their arrival at the White House and scheduled participation in the State of the Union address.
The players landed in Washington, DC, just after 1 p.m. ET after celebrating their historic gold medal against Canada at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games in Miami the night before.
The U.S. men’s ice hockey team stops to take photos with members of the military, allowing them to pose with their gold medals, after arriving at Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday. (PK Press Club)
Several service members lined up to greet the American team, who were again seen draping the American flag over their shoulders.
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Players then ran to greet them, stopping for hugs, handshakes and photos. Several players were seen handing out their gold medals to military men and women to wear in photos before heading out to meet President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes made headlines by sharing a patriotic message after his overtime goal secured the gold medal for Team USA.
“It’s all about our country right now. I love the United States. I love my teammates. It’s amazing. The United States is a brotherhood of hockey. It’s so strong and we’ve had so much support from former players. I’m so proud to be an American today,” a toothless Hughes told NBC immediately after the game.
Gold medalists Quinn Hughes and Jack Hughes of Team USA celebrate after the men’s gold medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Grégory Shamus/Getty Images)
NHL defenseman and brother of Jack, Quinn Hughes, continued that sentiment in an interview with NBC’s Mike Tirico, given as the team began its celebrations in Italy.
“It’s so special, and I want to thank our troops for allowing us to play this game. Thank you to our troops for allowing us to play this game.”
Trump invited the gold medal-winning men’s and women’s teams to the White House and extended an invitation to the State of the Union address, but the women’s team declined, citing scheduling conflicts.
President Donald Trump speaks with members of the United States men’s hockey team at the White House in Washington, DC, February 24, 2026. (Dan Scavino via X)
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In a video of the president’s phone call with the men’s team immediately after their victory, Trump said he “should” invite the women’s team or he would “probably be impeached.” Players laughed in response to Trump’s joke, sparking backlash on social media.
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