Trump Calls Team USA Before Final Against Canada \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Donald Trump called Team USA on Thursday to wish them luck ahead of their 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada. The players expressed excitement over the call, with J.T. Miller calling it an honor. Trump reiterated his stance on Canada becoming the 51st state, a comment that has fueled tensions between the two nations. Fans in Montreal and Boston reacted during national anthems, adding to the rivalry.
Quick Looks
- Presidential Support – Trump called Team USA before their 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada, expressing encouragement.
- Players React – U.S. center J.T. Miller called it an honor, while defenseman Noah Hanifin said they wanted to win for Trump.
- Trump’s 51st State Comment – Once again, Trump suggested Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, fueling tensions.
- Anthem Controversy – Fans in Montreal booed the U.S. anthem, while Boston fans lightly booed “O Canada” in response.
- Physical Rivalry – The previous U.S.-Canada matchup featured three fights in the first nine seconds, setting the stage for a fiery final.
- Trump’s Social Media Post – On Truth Social, Trump mocked Trudeau, referring to him as “Governor”, further escalating the rivalry.
- Invitation Declined – Team USA invited Trump to attend the game, but he had a prior commitment at a political event.
- Guerin’s Fox News Appearance – U.S. GM Bill Guerin praised Trump’s support, saying the team would welcome him in person.
- Hockey Meets Politics – Trump’s involvement turned a championship game into a political statement, ensuring his influence was felt both on and off the ice.
Deep Look
In a moment that blurred the lines between sports and politics, President Donald Trump called the U.S. men’s hockey team on Thursday, just hours before their 4 Nations Face-Off championship game against Canada. His message of support and encouragement was well-received by the players, but his comments about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state sparked controversy and further inflamed an already tense hockey rivalry.
The call took place inside Team USA’s locker room, with general manager Bill Guerin holding up a phone as players gathered around to listen. Photos posted on USA Hockey’s social media showed the team engaged in the moment, visibly excited to hear directly from the president.
“It was so awesome to get his support,” said U.S. center J.T. Miller. “It’s a pretty big deal for him to take time out of his schedule to talk to us for five minutes. It’s just another one of those things where we’re kind of pinching ourselves this tournament.”
Defenseman Noah Hanifin echoed Miller’s enthusiasm, adding:
“Hopefully we can get the win tonight for our country and for Trump.”
But while the players focused on the significance of a presidential call before a gold medal game, the larger political implications of Trump’s comments loomed over the tournament.
Trump’s 51st State Comments Add to U.S.-Canada Hockey Tensions
Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, a statement that many have dismissed as political theater but one that continues to fuel tensions between the two nations.
Since his re-election, Trump has used the 51st state rhetoric as a way to criticize Canada’s trade policies and economic relationship with the United States. His comments have drawn sharp responses from Canadian leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has firmly rejected the idea.
“That will never happen,” Trudeau has said in response to Trump’s repeated suggestions.
The hockey rivalry, always intense, took on a new dimension after Trump’s remarks, leading to crowd reactions in both countries during the tournament.
In Montreal, where Team USA played some of its early games, Canadian fans loudly booed “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the puck dropped.
In Boston, when the tournament shifted to TD Garden, American fans returned the favor by booing “O Canada” before a game against Finland.
Though anthem-booing is not uncommon in sports rivalries, the underlying political tension added weight to the gestures. Trump did not back down, reiterating his stance on Truth Social just before the final:
“If Governor Trudeau would like to join us, he would be most welcome. Good luck to everybody, and have a GREAT game tonight. So exciting!”
His choice to refer to Trudeau as “Governor” rather than Prime Minister appeared to be another jab at Canada’s sovereignty, further intensifying the controversy.
On-Ice Fireworks: U.S.-Canada Rivalry Gets Physical
While the political controversy played out off the ice, the intensity of the U.S.-Canada hockey rivalry showed up on the ice as well.
In their previous round-robin meeting, Team USA beat Canada 3-1, but the game was defined by its physicality as much as the score.
Within the first nine seconds, three fights broke out, setting the tone for a bruising battle.
Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk, and J.T. Miller all dropped the gloves, engaging in early scraps that sent a clear message that the bad blood between the two nations extended beyond politics.
“The anthem booing had nothing to do with the fights,” said Matthew Tkachuk, who started the first altercation. “That was just hockey.”
However, with Trump’s comments dominating headlines, the game’s physicality only added to the perception that this was about more than just hockey.
Trump Declines Invite to Final, Opts for Political Engagement
Earlier in the week, Team USA general manager Bill Guerin appeared on Fox News, suggesting that the team would welcome Trump to attend the championship game in person.
However, Trump had a prior commitment, speaking at the Republican Governors Association Meeting in Washington.
Despite being unable to attend, Trump remained highly engaged, using his phone call to the team and multiple social media posts to ensure his presence was still felt.
“He would have loved to be here,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. “But he will be watching closely, cheering for the United States to win.”
His message to the team was so well received that players are reportedly considering releasing a video of the call.
“They were jubilant over President Trump’s comments,” Leavitt said. “And we look forward to the United States beating our soon-to-be 51st state, Canada.”
The Hockey-Politics Crossover: What’s Next?
Trump’s call to Team USA may have been a sports moment, but it also underscored his ongoing push to keep Canada in the spotlight of his political messaging.
While his 51st state comments are unlikely to become policy, they have successfully stirred reactions from both Americans and Canadians—just as hockey fans on both sides gear up for one of the sport’s biggest international matchups.
As the U.S. and Canada face off in the final, the sports rivalry is taking on a deeper significance, proving that in Trump’s America, even hockey isn’t just a game.
Whether it’s anthem boos, on-ice fights, or Trump’s political jabs, one thing is certain:
This U.S.-Canada showdown will be remembered for more than just the score.
