Multiple congressional Democrats refused to stand for the U.S. men’s hockey team, who just won the gold medal in the 2026 Winter Olympics, at President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.
Trump welcomed the team to the first State of the Union address of his second term on Tuesday evening. Most of the other attendees gave the team a standing ovation.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen them get up, and actually not all of them did get up,” Trump noted of the Democrats in attendance.
It wasn’t immediately apparent which Democrat members refused to stand for the team.
Trump then added that the U.S. women’s hockey team, which also won gold in the Olympic Games, after beating Canada in the finals, will be visiting the White House in the near future. The team, due to scheduling conflicts, could not be present at the president’s address.
Members in attendance, including those who did not stand for the men’s team, appeared to stand up for the women’s team.
Trump then announced that Connor Hellebuyck, the goalie for the men’s team, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Trump described the medal as “the highest civilian honor.”
During his first term, Trump awarded the medal to professional golfer Tiger Woods, Hall of Fame baseball player Babe Ruth, and former professional football players Alan Page and Robert Staubach.
