Team USA men's hockey star Matthew Tkachuk made it clear he was thrilled about receiving a congratulatory phone call from President Trump following their historic gold-medal victory over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Over the moon, even.
Trump made the call after the American team defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to capture their first gold since the year of the "Miracle on Ice."
A historic feat not seen in nearly half a century drew some interest from the leader of the free world. Not everyone was happy about it.
Whether it was the fact that it was the President himself offering praise for Tkachuk and his teammates, or it was the fact that the call was facilitated by FBI Director Kash Patel, or maybe it was the left's chronic allergy to anything that makes America look and feel good—whatever the reason—the left was outraged.
But here's the thing: Tkachuk seemingly doesn't care what they think.
"It was super cool," he told reporters after arriving at Miami International Airport. "It’s an honor hearing from the President of the United States. Hearing that he was supporting us and all the other athletes wanting us to bring home as many gold medals as we can."
"We’re definitely honored to represent him and the hundreds of millions across the country and to bring a gold medal back."
Team USA Hockey’s Matthew Tkachuk: It Was An HONOR Hearing From Trump 🇺🇲🏅
— Mr Producer (@RichSementa) February 24, 2026
“It was super cool. It was an honor hearing from the President of the United States, hearing that he was supporting us.” https://t.co/FYOH0Dc8LR pic.twitter.com/b8JLC2zGV2
READ MORE: USA Reclaims Hockey Gold, Edging Out Canada - 46 Years to the Day After the Miracle on Ice
Hot Takes: Great Patriotic Message As US Wins Gold, Inspires Memes Dunking on Canada
A normal reaction from a normal human being. As such, cue the leftist outrage machine.
Aside from the President himself, is there anything liberals despise more than patriotism and people not giving a rip what they think? Well, that and happiness. Family. Sex. Anything that most Americans enjoy in life.
They are a joyless bunch. Or, as Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy explains, their reaction to Trump's epic phone call to the men's hockey team is evidence that they are "psychopaths."
“People are mad, they’re going nuts. ‘How could the hockey team laugh, why are they talking to the president?’ This should be a barometer of whether you’re a psychopath,” Portnoy said.
“If the president calls after you win the gold medal. I don’t care, if you don’t want to talk to him, fine. But to get mad when (somebody) talks to the President of the United States, and he’s just congratulating them, chumming around. If this speech made you mad, you need to take a valium and maybe just take a thousand steps back,” he added.
“Because there’s nothing to be mad about when a president congratulates a gold medal-winning team.”
— Rusty (@Rusty_Weiss) February 24, 2026
Jack Hughes, who scored the game-winning goal early in the extra period, is also loving life after etching his name in the annals of sports history. Though he does have one minor complaint.
His teeth. He'd like his teeth back.
Hughes lost two of his front teeth when he took a high stick to the mouth from Canadian forward Sam Bennett late in the third period. He was, as they say, spittin' Chiclets.
"So, I was just feeling around my mouth and I was just disappointed that I lost my teeth. But it is what it is now," he said. "No, I'm gonna fix these things. I want my good smile back."
Gold Medalist Jack Hughes After Losing His Teeth in The Final Game at the Olympics: I Want My Smile Back 🏅
— Mr Producer (@RichSementa) February 23, 2026
"I was just disappointed that I lost my teeth but it is what it is... I'm going to fix these things. I want my good smile back." https://t.co/IQinsYCgmZ pic.twitter.com/AZzRKa89KI
Sure, you can do that. But sports fans and Americans in general are always going to remember this iconic image ...
Jack Hughes is brilliant.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 23, 2026
Scores the winning golden goal to win USA the Olympic ice hockey gold medal, then says how much he loves his country, and even salutes America’s brilliant dentists.
No political virtue-signalling crap, just pure patriotic joy.
That’s the way to do it. pic.twitter.com/9UuNHgOXsB
How are you not romantic about this entire team and everything they represent? The folks over at the Huffington Post (and the left in general) should be studied and analyzed to help develop an antidote to their perpetual misery.
"If waving the American flag or chanting 'USA!' turns you off right now, you're not alone," the HuffPo recently wrote.
You might not be alone, but you're definitely part of a very select group known, as Portnoy says, as "psychopaths."
Editor's Note: With President Trump back in the White House, the state of our Union is strong once again.
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