Senators Stars Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson Attend Trump's State of the Union Address
In a remarkable post-Olympic celebration, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk and defenceman Jake Sanderson made headlines by attending U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday. This event marked a significant moment in their victory tour following their gold medal win with Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
From White House Tour to Capitol Hill
The day began with Tkachuk, Sanderson, and 18 other members of the U.S. men's hockey team touring the White House. They had the opportunity to meet President Trump in the Oval Office, where they gathered for a memorable group photo. "It was awesome just to have that opportunity," Tkachuk later told Fox News. "Just extremely grateful and blessed to be in this position. It almost went by so fast, where you're just trying to take it all in as best you can. But it truly was an unbelievable experience."
Later in the evening, the athletes moved to the U.S. Capitol, where they stood in the halls around 9:20 p.m., adorned with gold medals and matching Olympic-themed sweaters. They awaited their cue to enter the joint session of Congress, building anticipation for their grand entrance.
A Hero's Welcome at the State of the Union
Approximately 15 minutes into his speech, President Trump highlighted the team's achievement. "Our country is winning again," he declared. "In fact, we're winning so much that we really don't know what to do about it. People are asking me, 'Please, please, please Mr. President, we're winning too much, we can't take it anymore. We're not used to winning in our country until you came along, we're just always losing, but now we're winning too much.' And I say, 'No, no, no. You're going to win again. You're going to win big. You're going to win bigger than ever. And to prove that point, to prove that point, here with us tonight is a group of winners who just made the entire nation proud. The men's gold medal Olympic hockey team."
As they walked into the chamber, Tkachuk enthusiastically fist-pumped the air and joined lawmakers in chanting "USA! USA! USA!" Sanderson applauded as Trump announced that the women's hockey team, who also secured gold at the Olympics, would soon visit the White House.
Political Context and Social Media Buzz
The event occurred amid ongoing political tensions. Since his re-election in 2024, President Trump has threatened to use "economic force" to annex Canada. Just before the address, the official White House account on 'X' posted a State of the Union bingo card featuring a square that read, "After Olympic hockey loss, Canada becomes 51st state." Additionally, two days prior, the White House's TikTok page shared an AI-generated video that manipulated a Tkachuk press conference to make it appear he made provocative comments about Canada.
Despite these controversies, the focus remained on the athletes' celebratory moment. It is unclear whether Tkachuk and Sanderson returned to Ottawa in time for Wednesday's practice, but both are expected to play when the Senators host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.
This experience underscores the intersection of sports and politics, highlighting how Olympic victories can lead to high-profile recognitions on the national stage. For Tkachuk and Sanderson, it was a unique opportunity to bask in their athletic success while engaging with significant political events.
