Presidential Medal Of Freedom Announced for Connor Hellebuyck During State of the Union

President Donald Trump announced during the State of the Union that Connor Hellebuyck will receive the Presidential Medal Of Freedom. The announcement came as the gold-medal U. S. men's Olympic hockey team sat in the House gallery, amplifying both celebration of the victory and questions about the intersection of sports and politics.

Presidential Medal Of Freedom for Connor Hellebuyck

Trump said he would award the Presidential Medal Of Freedom to Hellebuyck and described taking a vote among the players before making the decision: "I did take a vote -- every single one of them. I said, 'I'm not giving it if anybody goes "no, "' and every single one of them rapidly put up their hand. " Hellebuyck, the U. S. team's goaltender who plays for the NHL's Winnipeg Jets, tapped his heart and waved as the chamber applauded. The medal is the nation's highest civilian honor and has been given to 671 individuals, including Simone Biles, Joe DiMaggio, Michael Jordan, Megan Rapinoe and Babe Ruth. It is believed Hellebuyck will be the first hockey player to receive it.

State of the Union and the U. S. men's hockey team in the House chamber

Players from the U. S. men's team entered the House chamber wearing blue "USA" sweaters, khakis and their gold medals, coming through two sets of doors and walking down the rows of the press gallery. Lawmakers from both parties stood and cheered, chanting "USA!" several times and pumping their fists. Trump introduced the group with a line that framed the visit as evidence of national success: "Our country is winning again, " and later told the players, "What special champions you are. "

Hellebuyck's gold-medal game performance in Milan and Jack Hughes' overtime

Hellebuyck made 41 saves in the gold-medal game against Canada and assisted on the overtime goal by Jack Hughes in the Americans' 2-1 victory. The win was the first time the U. S. men's team had taken Olympic gold since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice. " During the game Hellebuyck produced a sprawling stop in which he used his stick to halt Devon Toews, a play singled out as a defining moment in the final.

White House invitation, video from Milan and Jack Hughes' reaction

The team first entered what one account called "Trump's orbit" on the night of the final: video that circulated after the win in Milan showed players listening as Trump extended an invitation to the White House and added, "I must tell you, we're going to have to bring the women's team. " Many players laughed in the clip, a response that some interpreted as derisive. Jack Hughes, who scored the overtime goal, later addressed the backlash: he said people are "so negative out there, " that the team was excited by the invitation and that, "Everything is so political. We're athletes. When you get the chance to go to the White House and meet the president, we're proud to be Americans, and that's so patriotic. "

Trump's recent focus on hockey, Canada and the Gordie Howe International Bridge

The team's appearance followed a period in which Trump had taken an unusually public interest in hockey. Last winter, while the U. S. faced Canada in the NHL's mid-season Four Nations tournament, Trump mused about annexing Canada to make it the 51st state. In January, after Canada announced a tariff deal with China, Trump warned that China would "take over Canada" and that its first move would be to "end ice hockey. " Weeks later, in a social media rant about the Gordie Howe International Bridge, Trump speculated China would "eat Canada alive" and would "eliminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup. " Those comments followed an episode in which the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, upstaged Trump at Davos and Trump subsequently withdrew an invitation for Carney to join the Board of Peace. What makes this notable is how the same matches and diplomatic taunts that animate public attention to hockey also serve as touchpoints for broader assertions of hierarchy and national posture.

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