Trump Calls Team USA Ahead of Championship Match Against Canada

BOSTON, Massachusetts — U.S. President Donald Trump reached out to Team USA hockey on Thursday morning, a few hours before their championship match against Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. His call aimed to rally support as tensions brewed in the lead-up to the highly anticipated game.

In a social media post earlier that day, Trump stirred political debate by labeling Canada as the “Fifty First State” and referring to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor.” He said, “I’ll be calling our GREAT American Hockey Team this morning to spur them on towards victory tonight against Canada, which with FAR LOWER TAXES AND MUCH STRONGER SECURITY, will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished, and very important, Fifty First State.”

Trump also extended an invitation to Trudeau and U.S. governors to watch the game alongside him in Washington, D.C. The 4 Nations tournament has taken on significance beyond the ice, with the “Star-Spangled Banner” being booed at two games held at Montreal’s Bell Centre.

Bill Guerin, general manager of Team USA’s 4 Nations squad, confirmed Trump mentioned the 51st state during the call. “A little bit, but I would just try to focus on the message he was giving us,” Guerin said, emphasizing the importance of hockey in the event. “We’re here to play hockey. This is not a political forum.”

The call, which took place at 9:45 a.m. in the U.S. locker room, was apparently uplifting for the players. “I think it was awesome,” Guerin noted. “He just wanted to wish us luck… It’s not every day you get to talk to the president.”

Many players expressed excitement about receiving a call from Trump. Forward J.T. Miller described it as “pretty cool.” He added, “It’s a pretty big deal for him to take time out of his schedule to talk to us for five minutes.” Similarly, teammate Brock Faber marveled at the moment, noting, “When you’re a kid, you don’t ever think that’s going to be a possibility. It was really cool.”

Trump’s message encouraged players to enjoy the game, with Faber recalling, “Just enjoy the journey and the pride of wearing the red, white, and blue.” Matt Boldy appreciated Trump’s acknowledgment of the dedicated hockey fans, remarking, “It’s special… It’s something that we’ll remember.”

Head coach Mike Sullivan underscored the honor in receiving the call, despite the political backdrop. “Politics aside, when the president of the United States takes the time to speak to our players, it’s an incredible honor,” Sullivan said. He believed it underscored the tournament’s impact on promoting hockey in America.

The phone call was facilitated by Kash Patel, an FBI nominee who is known to be a hockey enthusiast. “We were connected through a mutual friend,” Guerin explained, adding that Trump was “all in” on the call.

Meanwhile, Canadian players and coaches responded to Trump’s remarks with their own perspectives. Canada’s coach Jon Cooper dismissed political motivations for his team, focusing on their goal to represent Canada with pride. Forward Brad Marchand echoed this sentiment, stating that the rink should serve as an escape from politics.

The USA and Canada will clash tonight at TD Garden in Boston, marking their first senior men’s hockey championship meeting since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Both teams have proven successful thus far; each won two of their three round-robin matches to qualify for the final, with the game set to start at 8 p.m. ET, broadcast live on ESPN and Sportsnet.