Trump Welcomes Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers to White House

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump celebrated the NHL’s defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers at the White House on Monday, focusing on sports while steering clear of any discussion on tariffs.

The ceremony was delayed by nearly an hour as Trump conversed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the tariffs. When it eventually began, the Stanley Cup was placed on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, where Trump took pictures with the Panthers, mingled with players, and chatted with team owner Vinnie Viola, a close friend. Viola presented Trump with a customized red “Trump 45-47” jersey and a golden hockey stick.

Trump praised the Panthers for their remarkable turnaround, noting their comeback from a loss in the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals to claim their first championship title in franchise history. He humorously compared their victory to his own journey back to the White House.

“You gave the fans one of the most riveting comebacks in NHL history, in any sport history,” Trump said. “I don’t know anything about a comeback, but they tell me it’s very nice.”

Viola, along with Finnish captain Aleksander Barkov and American forward Matthew Tkachuk, gifted Trump a “Trump 47” jersey and the golden stick. Viola joked, “We had to go with 45 and 47, right? We brought a cohort of champions to visit a champion. Your kindness and hospitality reflect the excellence you demand in people, and we were the beneficiaries of it today.”

Viola had been nominated by Trump in 2016 to be Secretary of the Army, though he later withdrew.

Trump also recognized key players, including goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, forward Anton Lundell, and Game 7 goal-scorers Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe. He also praised Florida's coach Paul Maurice and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who has led the league for over 30 years.

“He does a great job,” Trump said of Bettman. “I’ve known him for a long while, when he was in another league. But what you’ve done here has been incredible.”

After the ceremony, Trump announced a 30-day tariff pause for both Canada and Mexico.

Tkachuk, the only U.S.-born player left on the Panthers, thanked Trump for hosting the team. "Being one of the few Americans who loves this country so much, this is such an incredible day for me," he said. "You wake up every day really grateful to be an American, so thank you."

The Panthers made their White House visit before facing the Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals on Tuesday night. Trump also shared that he recently spoke with Wayne Gretzky, the league's career goals record holder, who mentioned his former protector Marty McSorley. "Do you know Wayne Gretzky? Isn’t that the ‘Great One’?" Trump asked. "He was telling me about a gentleman named Marty McSorley. I don’t know if he was a great hockey player, but they say he was very tough."