This week has been all about the Winter Olympics, with Team USA making a loud statement in both men’s and women’s hockey, taking home the gold medal. After the women’s team slayed the Canadians, the men’s team followed in their footsteps in what was a thrilling game decided by New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes’ late winner.
As celebrations erupted in the locker room, President Donald Trump got on a call with the men’s team and promised to send a military plane to bring the gold medalists to Washington.
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, the President made good on his promise and flew the men’s team out ahead of the State of the Union.
Matthew Tkachuk, Team USA Line Up In Front of US Air Force 757 After Donald Trump’s Gesture
Matthew Tkachuk posted a picture on his Instagram with some of his Team USA teammates who are expected to be in attendance for the State of the Union.
Others spotted in the picture include Jack Eichel, Brady Tkachuk, Dylan Larkin, and Connor Hellebuyck.
Interestingly, the gold medalists were initially slated to land in New York on Monday right after the win. However, the northeast blizzard tore up those plans, forcing the champs to reroute to Miami instead, where a traditional salute of water cannons greeted them.
Tkachuk, Auston Matthews, and the rest made the most of their short stay in Miami.
After landing in Miami in the morning, the men’s team boarded a double-decker bus for a short tour of the area alongside a police escort before ultimately making their way to the city’s famous E11EVEN nightclub. Interestingly, this was also the same venue the Florida Panthers used to celebrate their second successive Stanley Cup win last year.
A number of the American stars donned the team’s red, white, and blue, swinging back Michelobs and pouring champagne.
They also sang the Star-Spangled Banner in celebration, in what was truly a momentous occasion.
ALSO READ: Auston Matthews, Brady Tkachuk Lead Celebrations as Team USA Belts Out Star-Spangled Banner in Miami Nightclub
Over on the women’s side of things, the team decided to turn down Trump’s invitation due to scheduling conflicts.
Rapper Flavor Flav will instead host the team for “dinners, shows, and good times” in Las Vegas.
“If the USA Women’s Hockey team wants a real celebration and invite … I’ll host them in Las Vegas. Do some nice dinners, shows, and good times. I’m sure I can get a hotel and airline to help me out here and celebrate these women for real for real,” Flav wrote on social media platform X.
Alaska Airlines and StubHub are also expected to chip in after the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s invite.