Published on: Sun, 22 Feb 2026 20:34:00 GMT
Original Story: President Donald Trump congratulates Team USA hockey for gold medal win – USA Today

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Trump: Now Only *These* Winners Matter

Oh, look who decided to emerge from whatever gilded cage he’s been sulking in. Donald Trump, the man who once probably confused a hockey stick with a pool cue, has deigned to acknowledge Team USA’s gold medal victory. How… touching. It’s just so authentic. I’m sure he knows the names of every player… or at least can pronounce them vaguely like he does with foreign leaders.

The Selective Congratulations Circuit

Let’s not pretend this is about genuine sportsmanship. This is about optics. This is about aligning himself with a winning team, preferably one that’s predominantly American and photogenic. Remember, folks, loyalty is a one-way street with this guy. It flows *towards* him, not *from* him.

The Forgotten Teams of Yore

Where was this enthusiasm when the U.S. women’s soccer team was fighting for equal pay and, oh yeah, actually winning World Cups? Remember how he subtly (read: not subtly at all) undermined them? I’m sensing a pattern here.

A Trip Down Memory Lane (2018 Edition)

Ah, the good old days of 2018. Remember when Trump was all about “America First” but simultaneously trying to cozy up to Vladimir Putin after the Helsinki summit? He essentially sided with a foreign adversary *over* U.S. intelligence agencies. The hypocrisy is so thick you could spread it on toast. So much for unwavering support for “Team USA,” eh? It seems support only extends to teams that serve his immediate political purpose. Back then he was willing to throw the entire intelligence community under the bus. Today? Hockey players get a golden tweet. Consistency? Never heard of her.

The Art of the Deal (and Selective Endorsement)

This congratulatory message is less about celebrating athletic achievement and more about leveraging a feel-good moment. It’s the same playbook he’s been using for years: latch onto something popular, slap your name on it, and hope some of the positive vibes rub off. It’s Marketing 101, folks, just with a slightly more orange hue.

Winning: The Only Thing That Matters (to Him)

Let’s be real. Trump loves winners. He loves associating with success. It’s a reflection on him, in his mind. If Team USA had lost, would we have heard a peep? Probably not. He’d be too busy blaming someone else or, I don’t know, tweeting about windmills again.

The Deeper Implications (Yes, Even Hockey Gets Political)

Don’t think this is just about sports. This is about reinforcing a narrative. A narrative of American exceptionalism, of winning at all costs, of projecting strength and dominance. It’s all part of the Trump brand, and even a simple congratulations tweet is carefully calculated to further that image. It’s the same reason he only seems to visit states that overwhelmingly voted for him. Why bother with those “losers”?

And let’s not forget the subtle messaging. This is about “his” America, an America that he believes he represents, an America that wins. Any deviation from this narrative, any hint of dissent or criticism, is met with swift and often brutal retaliation. Ask the NFL players who dared to kneel during the national anthem. Or, you know, anyone who has ever disagreed with him on Twitter.

Snarky Takeaway

So, congratulations to Team USA. You deserve all the accolades. Just remember that your success is being used as a political pawn. Enjoy the fleeting moment of presidential praise. It might be gone faster than you can say “power play.” He’ll be on to the next shiny object soon enough. And for the rest of us? Keep your eyes peeled. The Trump Show is far from over, and the next act is always just around the corner. It’s going to be YUGE…ly predictable.

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