The U.S. men’s ice hockey team returned home to celebration, ceremony — and controversy.
Fresh off their Olympic gold medal win, the team kicked off a whirlwind Tuesday that began with an Air Force flight into Washington, D.C., and culminated in a standing ovation during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. The champions were welcomed at the White House, visited the Oval Office, and were publicly praised before a national audience inside the House chamber.
But amid the pageantry, a single photo ignited a social media firestorm.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared an image posing with deputy communications director Margo Martin and several members of Team USA, including Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman, Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, brothers Jack and Quinn Hughes, and Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson.
While the Hughes brothers wore red-and-white USA hats, Thompson appeared in a red “Make America Great Again” hat — a detail that quickly overshadowed the celebration online.
Criticism flooded social media platforms within hours. “How embarrassing,” one user posted on X. Another called Thompson a “scumbag” and claimed he had gone “from hero to zero in record time.” On Instagram, commenters targeted Thompson’s account, accusing him of making a political statement during what many saw as a unifying national moment.
“Your actions spoke louder than any cheap words you’ll invariably post as damage control,” one comment read. “We will remember you as the losers you are.” Another wrote, “A MAGA hat is disgraceful. You should be ashamed.”
The backlash highlighted the increasingly blurred line between sports and politics, particularly during high-profile White House visits.
President Trump had invited both the men’s and women’s gold medal hockey teams to Washington. While the men accepted and attended both the Oval Office gathering and the State of the Union, the women’s team declined the White House visit, citing scheduling conflicts.
During a video call with the men’s team immediately following their Olympic victory, Trump joked that he would “have” to invite the women’s team as well or he would “probably be impeached.” The players laughed at the remark — a moment that also drew criticism online once the clip circulated.
At Tuesday night’s address, Trump confirmed the women’s team would visit the White House at a later date, though no timeline was announced.
