President Donald Trump hosted dozens of U.S. Winter Olympians and Paralympians at the White House on Thursday, celebrating their achievements in the recent Milano Cortina Games. The reception in the East Room welcomed nearly half of the Team USA athletes who competed in Italy, along with coaches and staff.
Trump praised the athletes, calling them "perhaps the greatest group of Winter Olympians in American history." He specifically highlighted speedskater Jordan Stolz, describing him as the most decorated American Olympian of the 2026 Games and remarking on his "very strong legs." Stolz had previously placed a gold medal around Trump's neck during a rally in Wisconsin.
Athletes presented Trump with a Team USA jacket and sneakers. The president, in turn, promised to hand out special coins and offered attendees a tour of the Oval Office.
In his remarks, Trump acknowledged the significant dedication required to compete at the elite level, noting that "these men and women sacrificed years of their lives and countless early mornings to be the best in the world." He drew a parallel to his own experiences, stating, "I guess you get up early in the morning, don't you? I remember those days. But I didn’t do it as well as you. Not quite."
When Trump asked which athletes were training for the next Olympics, most raised their hands. He mentioned that Salt Lake City will host the 2034 Winter Olympics and Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Games.
Honoring Past and Future Teams
The event also touched upon the recognition of the U.S. men's hockey team, which had visited the White House in February and received a standing ovation during Trump's State of the Union address. While members of the gold-medal-winning U.S. women's hockey team had declined an earlier invitation to the State of the Union due to prior commitments, two members, Abbey Murphy and Joy Dunne, attended the Thursday reception and were acknowledged by the president.
Trump's remarks largely focused on the athletes' performances. However, he briefly addressed his administration's actions on sports, stating, "We’ve done a lot to help save women’s sports," and "saving college sports." He called for Congress to pass legislation overhauling the governance of college sports and pledged to sign it, adding, "We’re doing everything we can to protect the cherished sporting traditions that have long been part of our nation from the beginning."