Democrats attending the State of the Union have been blasted after they refused to give the Team USA men’s hockey stars a standing ovation.
The Winter Olympics champions were given a rousing introduction into the US Capitol by Donald Trump, prompting wild ‘USA’ chants among Republicans and others in attendance.
But Democrats inside the room refused to stand up for the team, sparking fury across social media. However, they did stand up when Trump later announced the women’s Winter Olympics team would visit the White House after rejecting his initial invite.
Referring to his political rivals, Trump quipped: ‘That’s the first time I’ve ever seen them get up and actually not all of them did get up.’
Former Trump advisor Jason Miller led the fury on social media, calling Democrats who snubbed the team ‘terrible human beings’ and ‘really pathetic’.
Others watching on at home labeled them ‘disgusting’ and ‘pathetic’ and claimed they ‘hate American greatness’.
Some Democrats refused to give a standing ovation to the Team USA men’s hockey stars
A large number of Democrats (left) stayed seated when the US hockey team was introduced
Players pumped their fists and posed with their gold medals as Republicans went crazy
Trump gave the team a rousing reception as defening ‘USA’ chants filled the chamber
The Winter Olympics champions were given a rousing introduction from President Trump
Led by goalscoring hero Jack Hughes and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, the men’s players entered the House chamber through two sets of doors and walked down the rows of the press gallery.
Republicans cheered and chanted ‘USA!’ several times, many even pumping fists.
Lisa McClain, the Republican House Conference Chair, shouted ‘Love you!’ to the players.
During the celebrations Trump announced he was awarding goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who remarkably saved 41 of 42 shots in the 2-1 overtime win over Canada, the Presidential Medal of Freedom following a vote by the players.
Trump said: ‘They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime, as everybody saw. As did the American women, who will soon be coming to the White House.
‘They were in the Oval Office before and I just want to say a second big congratulations to Team USA. We took a vote and I said “if anybody votes no, I’m not doing it.” They said they weren’t about to say no because they’ve never seen a goaltender play as well as Connor Hellebuyck.
‘I asked him, “the one shot where you put your stick in the back and it hit the neck of your stick and bounced off, did you practice that or was it a little lucky? He refused to answer that question.
‘But I just want to tell you that the members of this great hockey squad will be very happy to hear, based on their vote and my vote and in this case my vote was more important, that I will soon be presenting Connor with our highest civilian honor which is the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
‘What a special job you did. What special champions you are. Thank you very much.’
The men’s team has spent the day in Washington DC after being invited by Trump in the celebratory locker room phone call that has since divided America.
Trump joked he would ‘be impeached’ if he didn’t extend the same invite to the women’s team, who also won gold in Milan, and they later chose not to accept.
Former Trump advisor Jason Miller called them ‘terrible human beings’ and ‘really pathetic’
Trump awarded goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (right) the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Following a riotous night of celebrating in Miami, the men’s team flew to Washington DC on Tuesday morning. They met Trump in the Oval Office as he prepared to deliver his State of the Union address.
There are 20 members of the 25-man Winter Olympics roster in Washington DC with five choosing to skip the trip.
Videos and photos shared on social media by Trump administration aides throughout Tuesday documented their trip to the White House. They showed hockey team members posing for a photograph in front of the South Portico.
They walked along the West Wing colonnade where Trump has posted portraits of every U.S. president just steps away from the Oval Office, where they were welcomed by Trump.
As they approached the Oval Office, some of the players popped into the press office’s open door to flash the medals from their 2-1 overtime win over Canada on Sunday.
It was the Americans’ first gold medal in men’s hockey since the ‘Miracle on Ice’ group won in Lake Placid, New York, in 1980. Staffers applauded and shouted, ‘We love you!’
‘I recognize every one of you. I know every one of you,’ Trump said as the players entered the Oval Office, which he has redecorated with numerous flourishes of gold that matched the players´ medals.
‘Big guys,’ he said, standing near his desk and shaking hands with the players, who wore dark tops with ‘USA,’ the American flag and the Olympic rings on the front and light colored pants.
The one Team USA star who was instantly recognized by Trump was Panthers veteran Matthew Tkachuk, who recently made flattering comments about the President as Florida celebrated its latest Stanley Cup title at the White House last month.
President Trump welcomed 20 of the 25-man roster into the Oval Office earlier on Tuesday
The Republican leader slipped on a gold medal before posing for pictures with the team
They showed hockey team members posing for a photograph in front of the South Portico
They walked along the West Wing colonnade where Trump has portraits of every president
Stars leaned into the press office’s open door to flash the medals from their win over Canada
As a back-to-back Stanley Cup champion, Tkachuk was making his third White House trip in just over 12 months.
‘There’s my friend,’ Trump told the elder Tkachuk brother. ‘You’ve come a long way since I last saw you.’
While 20 members of the 25-strong squad were in attendance, five players chose not to go to America’s capital to continue the celebrations.
According to The Athletic, Kyle Connor, Jake Oettinger, Brock Nelson, Jake Guentzel and Jackson LaCombe have all opted against spending time with Trump and their teammates in Washington DC.
Connor, who didn’t see any action in Milan after their first game, practiced with the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday ahead of their next NHL game on Wednesday.
Oettinger was scheduled to arrive back in Texas on Tuesday and should be at the Dallas Stars’ morning skate on Wednesday before they play the Seattle Kraken.
Nelson is back in Denver to see his family and should be back with the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. Guentzel has arrived home in Tampa Bay but skipped Lightning practice on Tuesday.
Meanwhile LaCombe was heading back to California from Miami on Tuesday as he prepares to reunite with his Anaheim Ducks teammates for their game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Interestingly, all but Connor grew up in Minnesota. There have been violent clashes in Minneapolis between immigration enforcement agents and anti-ICE protesters following the deaths of two Americans, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, last month.
