What was meant to be a feel-good moment honoring one of the greatest upsets in sports history took an uncomfortable turn inside the White House on Friday.
President Donald Trump welcomed members of the legendary 1980 U.S.
Olympic hockey team to Washington to formally recognize their achievement — but the ceremony included a remark that quickly reignited controversy around his rhetoric on immigration.
Honoring a Hockey Legend Nearly Half a Century Later
The president hosted the team to sign legislation awarding Congressional Gold Medals to the players who delivered the iconic “Miracle on Ice.”
Nearly 46 years after their stunning victory over the Soviet Union, the group gathered in the Oval Office to mark an achievement that still resonates in American sports culture.
Smiles, handshakes, and nostalgia filled the room as Trump, now 79, greeted the former players one by one.
A Minnesota Mention Sparks an Uncomfortable Exchange
During the ceremony, former defenseman Bill Baker shook hands with Trump and casually mentioned his roots in Minnesota, noting that most of the team came from the state.
Aware of Trump’s recent criticism of Minnesota — particularly his comments targeting the state’s Somali-American population — Baker tried to lighten the moment.
“I’m from Minnesota,” he said, adding with a nervous laugh that the state “doesn’t ring very well right now,” before expressing hope that things could improve.
A Joke That Didn’t Land
Trump responded with a quip that immediately raised eyebrows.
“Do we have any Somalians on the team?” he asked. “I don’t think so.”
The remark followed a string of comments Trump has made in recent weeks criticizing Somali immigrants in Minnesota, including referring to them as “garbage.”
He was also heard referencing Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota lawmaker who has repeatedly clashed with him over his rhetoric.
Renewed Focus on Somali Immigration
Trump has recently suggested that members of Minnesota’s Somali community should be deported, accusing them of contributing nothing to the country amid ongoing investigations into alleged fraud cases in the state.
“These are people that do nothing but complain,” Trump said earlier this month.
“They complain, and from where they came from, they’ve got nothing.”
Those comments have intensified scrutiny of his stance and fueled sharp political backlash.
Ilhan Omar Fires Back
Rep. Omar did not stay silent. Speaking earlier this week, she condemned Trump’s remarks in blunt terms.
“These are Americans that he is calling garbage,” she said during an appearance on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.
“It’s disgusting. It’s completely disgusting.”
She went further, accusing the president of fixating on her and her community.
“We feel like there is an unhealthy obsession that he has with the Somali community,” Omar said, “and an unhealthy and creepy obsession that he has with me.”
Medals, Applause, and a Loyal Fan Base
Despite the tense undertone, the ceremony continued as planned.
Trump formally presented the Miracle on Ice team with Congressional Gold Medals, recognizing one of the most celebrated moments in U.S. sports history.
Many members of the team have long been supporters of the Republican president.
During the 2020 campaign, several players appeared alongside Trump at a rally in Las Vegas.
Familiar Faces Return to the Spotlight
Among those in attendance were team captain Mike Eruzione, goaltender Jim Craig, forward Buzz Schneider, and roughly ten other former players.
Also present was the son of the late head coach Herb Brooks, whose leadership remains inseparable from the team’s legacy.
The Game That Shocked the World
The “Miracle on Ice” remains one of the most improbable victories ever recorded.
A scrappy group of U.S. college players, with an average age of just 21, faced a Soviet team stacked with seasoned professionals who had dominated international hockey for years.
The Soviets had won gold in five of the previous six Olympics and were overwhelming favorites heading into the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York.
Four Goals That Changed History
Against all expectations, the Americans pulled off a stunning 4–2 win over the Soviet Union.
Two days later, they defeated Finland to claim the gold medal on home ice.
As the final seconds ticked away against the Soviets, broadcaster Al Michaels delivered a call that would echo for generations: “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”
Why the Moment Still Matters
Decades later, the Miracle on Ice is still viewed as more than just a hockey game.
It symbolized youthful belief, national pride, and the power of the unexpected — qualities that continue to resonate, even as modern politics found its way into a celebration of the past.
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