WASHINGTON, D.C. February 24, 2026 — Just days after clinching Olympic gold in a dramatic overtime thriller, members of the United States Men’s Hockey Team received a hero’s welcome at the White House, strolling through the historic colonnade as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s iconic anthem “Free Bird” played in the background.
Video footage posted by White House Special Assistant to the President and Communications Advisor Margo Martin captured the unforgettable moment: the gold-medal winners, medals around their necks and American flags in hand, walking confidently through the elegant colonnade. The post, shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday evening, read: “The USA Men’s Hockey Team tours the White House colonnade as Free Bird plays 🇺🇸.”
The visit follows President Donald Trump’s invitation to the team after their stunning 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey gold medal game on February 22 in Milan, Italy. New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal at 1:41 of overtime — the first U.S. men’s Olympic hockey gold since the legendary “Miracle on Ice” in 1980.
Trump personally congratulated the team via phone from the locker room and invited them to his State of the Union address that same Tuesday night. Several players accepted, flying into Washington, D.C., aboard a military aircraft after celebrations in Miami. Not all could attend due to the NHL season resuming Wednesday, but those present — including stars like Hughes, his brother Quinn Hughes, and Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin — embraced the honor.
Larkin called the White House experience “the cool experience of a lifetime” in a FOX News interview. Hughes addressed online backlash over the team’s acceptance of the invite, saying: “Everything is so political… We’re athletes. We’re so proud to represent the U.S. … we’re proud to be Americans and that’s so patriotic. No matter what your views are, we’re super excited to go to the White House.”
During the visit, team members also posed for photos with U.S. military personnel, further underscoring their unapologetic pride in representing the nation.
In contrast, the gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team — who defeated Canada on February 19 — declined a similar invitation, citing “previously scheduled academic and professional commitments” following the Games.
The men’s team’s White House tour has gone viral as a quintessential American celebration: championship glory, timeless rock ‘n’ roll, and unmistakable national pride. It sets the stage for what promises to be a highlight moment at Tuesday night’s State of the Union address.
This story is based directly on the official White House video shared via the provided X post, alongside confirmed reports from the team’s Olympic triumph and presidential invitation.
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