Vice president JD Vance led American praise for ‘patriot’ Jack Hughes after his pro-USA celebrations in the wake of their hockey gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
Hughes scored a dramatic overtime winner to defeat Canada 2-1 in the final, sealing the gold medal for the Americans and sparking wild celebrations across the USA.
Missing some of his teeth and with blood staining his lips after a brutal game, an emotional Hughes could not hide his emotions afterwards.
‘This is all about our country right now,’ he said. ‘This is all about our country. I love the USA. I love my teammates… I’m so proud to be an American today.
‘That’s a great Canadian team, but we’re USA, we’re so proud to be Americans, tonight was all for the country.
‘It’s everything, the USA hockey brotherhood means so much, we’re such a team, we’ve been together for two weeks, but we’re such a team. The USA hockey brotherhood is so strong, and we’re so proud to win for our country.’
Team USA’s hockey hero Jack Hughes sent Americans wild with his patriotic TV interview
President Trump and vice president JD Vance both congratulated the USA on their victory
His response led to a flurry of praise from his fellow Americans on social media, including from Vance who wrote on X: ‘Heart full of pride for his country and a few front teeth gone missing.
‘That’s American hockey right there. Congratulations to Jack and everyone on Team USA for bringing home the gold.’
Other Americans joined in the praise, with one commenting: ‘True American. Didn’t bad mouth his country like other cowards.’
Another added: ‘Now this is what playing for and representing your country should look like! Congrats men’s hockey team! Go USA!’
A third commented: ‘Jack Hughes speaking from the heart. Pride and patriotism shining through every play’.
‘This is an outstanding young American! I have much faith in our youth! God bless you Jack!!,’ another replied.
One wrote: ‘Broken teeth, bleeding and bruising yet he is standing there praising America. What a legend!’
‘Now THIS is how an AMERICAN responds!!’, one passionate fan added.
Hughes’ unfiltered love for his country comes in stark contrast to a number of Team USA’s athletes at the Winter Olympics, who have used the platform to protest against Trump and a number of issues currently dividing America.
Team USA freestyle skiers Hunter Hess and Chris Lillis, as well as the ice skater Amber Glenn and curler Rich Ruohonen, have all spoken out about escalating issues in the US during the past fortnight.
Trump responded to Hess’s comment by calling the Olympic athlete a ‘real loser’ who shouldn’t have ‘tried out for the team’ if he didn’t want to represent the USA.
‘Very hard to root for someone like this,’ he posted to Truth Social.
Women’s hockey Olympic gold medalist Kelly Pannek, who is from Minnesota, criticized ICE raids that led to the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti and said she is most proud to represent Americans ‘who brave the coldest days to advocate for their beliefs.’
Other athletes were a bit less direct in their criticism of the president and his policies, and were more cryptic in their perceivably anti-Trump messaging.
Cross-country skier Jessie Diggins said in an Instagram post she does ‘not stand for hate or violence or discrimination’ and is racing for Americans who stand ‘for love, for acceptance, for compassion, honesty and respect for others.’
Glenn, a three-time US champion figure skater, said that under an administration demanding athletes ‘just be quiet’ and ‘stick to sports,’ she will continue to speak out about challenges the LGBTQ community faces.
At a pre-Olympic press conference, she said: ‘It isn’t the first time that we’ve had to come together as a community and try and fight for our human rights.’
The White House trolled Canada and Justin Trudeau on social media after the USA’s gold win
The Americans clinched Winter Olympic gold over Canada in a thrilling overtime clash
Trump‘s administration got the last laugh over former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and their neighbors to the north on Sunday.
Shortly after Team USA emerged victorious, The White House’s X account shared a photo of a bald eagle digging its talons into the head of a Canadian goose in a clear symbolic dig.
The image was posted in response to a previous tweet from former Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau from last year’s 4 Nations: Face-Off tournament.
‘You can’t take our country – and you can’t take our game,’ Trudeau wrote last February – almost a year to the day – when Canada beat the United States in the NHL’s international tournament amid rising political tensions between the nations.