President Donald Trump hosted the US men's Olympic hockey team in the Oval Office on Tuesday, joking that he would take one of the players' gold medals.
Trump has taken other people's awards in the past, including the Nobel Peace Prize, which was presented by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. He teased the Olympic gold medalists visiting the White House that he would put on one of the medals.
"Absolutely, I'll put it on. I'm not giving it back," Trump joked to winger Matthew Tkachuk.
Trump and the men's hockey team have come under fire after comments made following the men's hockey team's win, which came after the US Women's hockey team secured their own gold medals at the Winter Olympics in Milan.
Following the men's team victory, the president lamented during a phone call with the team about having to invite the women's team to the White House, which also won gold at the Olympics.
"And we have to — I must tell you — we're going to have to bring the women's team," Trump told the men's hockey team during a phone call. "[If I don't] do that, I do believe I probably would be impeached, OK?"
The women's team later rejected the president's invitation.
Trump putting on Gold Medal: Absolutely, I'll put it on. I'm not giving it back. pic.twitter.com/hIumVxFyxy
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 24, 2026