'Hand of Providence': 7 top moments in Trump's State of the Union address marking nation's 250th anniversary

1. Trump gives shout out to the US men’s gold medal Olympic hockey team

Trump’s address took place two days after the conclusion of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. After insisting that “We’re winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it,” the president said, “People are asking me, ‘Please, please, please, Mr. President, we’re winning too much, we can’t take it anymore, we’re not used to winning in our country,’” he rejected that argument. 

“I say no, no, no, you’re going to win again; you’re going to win big. You’re going to win bigger than ever,” he proclaimed. “To prove that point, here with us tonight is a group of winners who just made the entire nation proud: the men’s gold medal Olympic hockey team.” 

Trump invited the 2026 men’s Olympic hockey team into the chamber. In addition to the medals around their necks, the athletes were all wearing sweatshirts emblazoned with the words “USA” and the American flag, along with the Olympics logo. 

The athletes received a round of applause, and chants of “USA” broke out in the chamber. Trump commented on the bipartisan support received by the athletes, contending that “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen them get up,” referring to the Democrats. 

Trump highlighted the athletes’ accomplishments at the 2026 Winter Olympics, noting that “They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime, as everybody saw.” He also touted the accomplishments of the U.S. women’s hockey team, announcing that they “will soon be coming to the White House.” 

The president recalled what took place when the men’s hockey team visited the White House, “We took a vote of the team. I said, ‘If anybody votes no, I’m not doing it.’ So they stood there. They weren’t about to say no.” 

Trump also announced that he would soon present team goalie Connor Hellebuyck with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his athletic accomplishments.