WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� President Donald Trump mostly stuck to sports and avoided any as he celebrated the NHL鈥檚 defending at the White House on Monday.
Trump had to delay the ceremony nearly an hour while he talked to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the tariffs. Eventually, with the Stanley Cup placed on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, Trump took pictures with the team, chatted with players and Panthers owner Vinnie Viola 鈥� who he considers a good friend 鈥� and was gifted a couple of jerseys and a golden hockey stick.
He praised the Panthers for going from losing in the final in 2023 to Vegas to winning the first title in franchise history, jokingly comparing it to his path back to the White House.
鈥淵ou gave the fans one of the most riveting comebacks in NHL history, in any sport history,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know anything about a comeback, but they tell me it鈥檚 very nice.鈥�
The Panthers had a red customized 鈥淭rump 45-47鈥� jersey framed for him. He was also presented a 鈥淭rump 47鈥� jersey and the gold stick by Viola, Finnish captain Aleksander Barkov and American forward Matthew Tkachuk.
鈥淲e had to go with 45 and 47, right?鈥� Viola said to Trump. 鈥淲e brought a cohort, to use a term from the military, of champions to visit a champion. And your kindness and the hospitality displayed by your staff is a simple reflection of the excellence that you demand in people, and we were the beneficiaries of it today.鈥�
Trump to be his Secretary of the Army in 2016 before Viola withdrew his name from consideration.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a champion at everything he鈥檚 ever done, loves the military,鈥� Trump said.
Trump singled out , forward Anton Lundell and Game 7 goal-scorers Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe, as well as and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who has been in that job after starting in professional sports with the NBA.
鈥淗e does a great job,鈥� Trump said of Bettman. 鈥淜new him for a long while, when he was in another league. But this has been incredible the job you鈥檝e done.鈥�
Minutes after the ceremony, Trump announced he had on Canada, in addition to Mexico, for 30 days.
Tkachuk, the only U.S.-born player left on the team this season, thanked Trump for hosting the Panthers.
鈥淏eing one of the few Americans who loves this country so much, this is such an incredible day for myself,鈥� Tkachuk said. 鈥淵ou wake up every day really grateful to be an American, so thank you.鈥�
The Panthers made their White House visit before facing the on Tuesday night. Capitals captain the league's career goals record held by Wayne Gretzky, who Trump said he spoke with recently.
鈥淒o you know Wayne Gretzky?鈥� Trump said. 鈥淒id you ever hear of Wayne Gretzky? Isn鈥檛 that the 鈥楪reat One?鈥� And he was telling me about a gentleman that protected him named Marty McSorley. You know that? You ever hear of him? I don鈥檛 know if he was a good hockey player, but they say he was very tough. Wayne was saying he was great as far as he was concerned.鈥�
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AP NHL:
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
