Trump delivers pep talk to US team before politically charged hockey final against Canada

President Trump delivered a pre-game pep talk via phone call to the U.S. men’s national ice hockey team ahead of their 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada.

In the call, Trump praised the team, saying, “You guys are really talented. I have great respect for hockey players. I’m a hockey fan. I love hockey,” and highlighted their skill, noting, “The talent, the skill that you have is crazy.” He encouraged them to “go out and have a good time” and wished them luck, adding, “You really are a skilled group of people. It’s an honor to talk to you.” Trump humorously remarked, “There’s no pressure whatsoever,” which drew a laugh from the players. He concluded with a patriotic send-off: “We love America, we love you guys. We’ll be watching tonight, bring it home.”