White House Communications Director Steven Cheung has sparked controversy by vehemently criticizing the selection of Canada's Connor McDavid as the Most Valuable Player of the men's ice hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics. The outburst came despite the United States securing a dramatic 2-1 victory over Canada in the gold medal showdown at Milan Cortina 2026 on Sunday.
Cheung's 'Rigged' Accusation Echoes Trump Rhetoric
In a fiery post on X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, Cheung deployed a term frequently used by former President Donald Trump to falsely allege election fraud in 2020. "RIGGED!" Cheung wrote, quote-posting the announcement of McDavid's MVP honor. He argued that American players Jack Hughes and Connor Hellebuyck deserved to be named co-MVPs for their heroic performances throughout the tournament.
Controversy Amid U.S. Celebration
The political drama unfolded as the U.S. team celebrated its historic win. FBI Director Kash Patel joined the players in a controversial celebration of the gold medal achievement. Meanwhile, President Trump marked Team USA's record-breaking haul of 12 gold medals at the Italy Games with a series of posts on his Truth Social platform.
The MVP selection has become a flashpoint in what was already a highly charged Olympic finale. McDavid received the individual accolade despite his team falling short in the championship match, a decision that has drawn scrutiny from the highest levels of American politics.
