The United States men’s Olympic hockey team, fresh from capturing gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, landed at Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday ahead of attending President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address in Washington, D.C. The squad’s arrival followed a celebratory stop in Miami and a chartered flight orchestrated after winter weather disrupted earlier travel plans.

The team secured a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over Canada to claim the nation’s first Olympic men’s hockey title since 1980, prompting widespread acclaim and an invitation from President Trump to be honored at the Capitol.

Members of the squad posed for photographs at the White House, including in front of the South Portico and along the West Wing colonnade, underscoring the significance of their achievement and the administration’s recognition of their success.

Forward Jack Hughes, who scored the gold-clinching goal, and his teammates shared images on social media showing the group deplaning and celebrating their arrival.

The invitation followed a jovial phone call from President Trump to the players in their locker room after the gold-medal game, in which he praised their performance and extended the invitation to attend the address.

The men’s team accepted the invitation as a mark of national pride, while the U.S. women’s hockey team, also Olympic gold medalists, declined a similar invitation due to prior academic and professional commitments.

The men’s attendance at the State of the Union reflects both their athletic accomplishment and a broader ceremonial recognition by the administration.

Their presence in the nation’s capital coincides with heightened public interest in the address, scheduled for Tuesday evening, where President Trump will outline his agenda to a joint session of Congress.

The team’s appearance is expected to draw both sports fans and political observers, symbolizing a moment of national achievement and unity ahead of the speech.