While most of America was delighting in the USA men’s hockey team’s triumphant return after their thrilling 2-1 gold-medal-winning overtime victory over the Canadians, the Huffington Post and its readers were having a sad.
The HuffPo began by talking about the historic nature of Team USA’s win, the first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980. However, the HuffPo laments that the “hero’s welcome” the team should have received was ruined by their phone call with President Trump after their win.
“Considering that this is the first time in 46 years the men’s team has won gold at the global sporting event, one would assume they’d receive a hero’s welcome,” the article states. “But, thanks to a gross exchange the team had with President Donald Trump after their big win, they got more of a zero’s welcome.”
The article then details the sporadic praise and shouts of “USA!” the team received from onlookers upon arriving at Miami’s airport. First, it’s odd that the HuffPo describes the reception as “lukewarm,” given that no welcoming party was planned for them in Miami. So, why would anyone expect something different on a Monday morning at Miami International?
Secondly, the article completely omits mention of the water cannon salute the team’s plane received on the tarmac (a welcoming gesture literally reserved for heroes) and of the large number of people who were there to greet the team. Okay, maybe they weren’t screaming at the top of their lungs, but there was definitely a solid contingent on hand to take pictures and welcome the team. Especially for a town like Miami, which is not a bad hockey town, but not Detroit or Philadelphia either.
🚨 JUST IN: The US Men’s Hockey Team was given a WATER CANNON SALUTE by firefighters when their plane touched down in Miami
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 23, 2026
And then they were greeted by screaming fans in the terminal.
MUCH deserved. You made our country proud, guys! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/KFJa7dbWDf
But then, even more bizarrely, the article takes the ludicrous leap of attributing what it perceives to be the “underwhelming reception” to Trump’s phone call with the team after Sunday’s game.
You can hear the genuine pride in Donald Trumps voice when he called the Team USA Hockey Team pic.twitter.com/ch6GbXShwh
— Harrison Krank (@HarrisonKrank) February 23, 2026
“And we have to — I must tell you — we’re going to have to bring the women’s team,” Trump said before snickering, which prompted the men’s hockey team to erupt with laughter.”
The article continued, “The U.S. women’s hockey team also won gold at the Winter Olympics, but after the video of Trump’s degrading call went viral on social media, they have decided to decline the president’s White House offer.”
The piece then breathlessly anticipates the women’s team attending the Vegas party offered by rapper Flava Flav.
If the USA Women’s Hockey team wants a real celebration and invite ,,, I’ll host them in Las Vegas. Do some nice dinners and shows and good times. I’m sure I can get a hotel and airline to help me out here and celebrate these women for real for real. pic.twitter.com/NhtRJ8UxKE
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) February 23, 2026
Of course, as we know, after the president’s State of the Union (SOTU) address on Tuesday night, the USA women’s hockey team did not find the president’s joke nearly as degrading as the HuffPo did because they are indeed going to visit the White House after all.
Womp. Womp.
