Trump Honors US Winter Olympians and Paralympians at White House / TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. mansour/ President Donald Trump hosted dozens of U.S. Winter Olympians and Paralympians at the White House to celebrate their performances at the Milano Cortina Games. About half of the Team USA athletes who competed in Italy attended after Americans won a combined 57 Olympic and Paralympic medals. Trump largely focused on their achievements but also promoted his policies involving women’s sports and called for changes to college athletics.
Quick Look
- Trump honored U.S. Winter Olympians and Paralympians at the White House.
- Nearly half of the Team USA athletes who competed in Italy attended.
- Coaches, staff members and other representatives joined the reception.
- The United States sent 300 athletes to the two winter competitions.
- American athletes won 57 medals in total.
- Speedskater Jordan Stolz attended the event.
- Trump called Stolz the most decorated U.S. Olympian of the 2026 Games.
- Team USA presented Trump with a jacket and sneakers.
- Trump promised athletes commemorative coins.
- Attendees were invited to tour the Oval Office.
- Heavy rain moved the event from the Rose Garden patio to the East Room.
- Women’s hockey players Abbey Murphy and Joy Dunne attended.
- The gold medal-winning men’s hockey team did not make another White House visit.
- Ice dancers Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik indicated they did not want to attend.
- Trump urged Congress to overhaul the governance of college sports.
- The 2034 Winter Olympics will be held in Salt Lake City.
Deep Look
Trump Hosts Team USA at White House
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump hosted dozens of U.S. Winter Olympians and Paralympians at the White House on Thursday to honor their achievements at the Milano Cortina Games.
The reception brought athletes, coaches, staff members and Team USA representatives to the East Room.
According to the White House, nearly half of the American athletes who competed in Italy attended.
Trump Praises Historic Group of Athletes
Team USA athletes wearing national windbreakers stood on risers behind Trump during the ceremony.
“Today, we’re truly honored to welcome to the White House perhaps the greatest group of Winter Olympians in American history,” Trump said, as athletes in USA windbreakers filled rows of risers behind him.
The president highlighted their medal performances and the years of preparation required to compete at the highest international level.
US Athletes Won 57 Medals
Approximately 300 Americans participated in the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
Together, they won 57 medals.
The total reflected achievements across Olympic and Paralympic events during the Milano Cortina competitions in Italy.
Jordan Stolz Receives Special Recognition
Speedskater Jordan Stolz was among the athletes attending the White House reception.
Trump described Stolz as the single most decorated American Olympian of the 2026 Games.
The president also commented on the speedskater’s “very strong legs.”
Stolz had previously appeared with Trump at a rally in Wisconsin, where he briefly placed one of his gold medals around the president’s neck.
Team USA Gives Trump Gifts
The athletes presented Trump with a Team USA jacket and sneakers.
Trump promised to distribute special commemorative coins to those attending.
He also invited the Olympians and Paralympians to tour the Oval Office after the reception.
Rain Moves Reception Indoors
The White House originally planned to hold the celebration on the stone patio Trump had constructed near the Rose Garden.
Heavy evening rain forced organizers to move the ceremony indoors.
The East Room instead became the setting for the reception and presidential remarks.
Trump Recognizes Athletes’ Sacrifices
Trump praised the time and discipline required to reach Olympic and Paralympic competition.
“These men and women sacrificed years of their lives and countless early mornings to be the best in the world,” Trump said.
The president then recalled his own experience as a former athlete.
“That’s right. 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.”
Many Athletes Already Training Again
Trump asked the athletes how many had begun preparing for the next Olympics.
Most raised their hands.
The president noted that Salt Lake City will host the 2034 Winter Olympics and that Los Angeles will stage the 2028 Summer Games.
Men’s Hockey Team Honored Earlier
The gold medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team visited Trump at the White House in February.
Players also attended his State of the Union address that night and received a bipartisan standing ovation lasting approximately two minutes.
Trump spoke at length Thursday about the team, although its members did not make another trip to the White House.
Women’s Hockey Players Attend Reception
Members of the gold medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey team had declined an invitation to attend Trump’s State of the Union speech.
They cited previously scheduled academic and personal commitments.
Trump said at the time that the team would be honored later.
Two players, Abbey Murphy and Joy Dunne, attended Thursday’s reception and received individual recognition from the president.
Ice Dancers Indicate They Would Not Attend
Ice dancers Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik indicated in a social media video Thursday that they did not want to attend the White House event.
The report did not provide further details about their decision.
Their absence showed that not all members of Team USA chose to participate in the presidential celebration.
Trump Mostly Avoids Politics
Trump kept most of his remarks focused on Olympic and Paralympic achievements.
However, he briefly shifted toward political issues involving gender and athletics.
“We’ve done a lot to help save women’s sports,” Trump told the athletes.
The comment received a muted response from some attendees.
Trump Repeats Position on Transgender Athletes
Trump frequently receives strong applause at his political rallies when he declares opposition to transgender rights and participation policies in sports.
The more restrained reaction at the White House reception contrasted with responses at his “Make America Great Again” campaign-style events.
He did not expand extensively on the subject during Thursday’s ceremony.
President Calls for College Sports Overhaul
Trump also said his administration was “saving college sports.”
He urged Congress to approve legislation restructuring the governance of college athletics and promised to sign it.
The president did not provide extensive details about the proposed legislation during the reception.
Trump Promises to Protect Sporting Traditions
Trump framed his sports policies as an attempt to protect long-standing American traditions.
“We’re doing everything we can to protect the cherished sporting traditions that have long been part of our nation from the beginning,” the president said.
The reception concluded with plans for gifts and a tour of the Oval Office for the athletes and Team USA representatives.
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