In the lead-up to the highly anticipated 4 Nations Face-Off final between the United States and Canada, President Donald Trump has added to the political undertones surrounding the event. On Thursday morning, he reached out to Team USA, offering words of encouragement ahead of their championship clash in Boston.
Trump posted a statement about the U.S. vs. Canada rematch while trolling Trudeau on Truth Social:
“I’ll be calling our GREAT American Hockey Team this morning to spur them on towards victory tonight against Canada, which with FAR LOWER TAXES AND MUCH STRONGER SECURITY, will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished, and very important, Fifty First State. I will be speaking before the Governors tonight in D.C., and will sadly, therefore, be unable to attend. But we will all be watching, and if Governor Trudeau would like to join us, he would be most welcome. Good luck to everybody, and have a GREAT game tonight. So exciting!”
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 20, 2025
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Team USA’s General Manager, Bill Guerin, acknowledged Trump’s involvement, noting that while the team aims to focus on the championship match, the political context is unavoidable. Guerin said:
We would love it if President Trump was in attendance. We have a room full of proud American players and coaches and staff. Listen, we’re just trying to represent our country the best way we can.
I think there was a little bit of a political flair to it. It’s just the time that we’re in. If you let it get the better of you, then you’re in trouble. But I do think the players used it as inspiration.
The political tension has not been confined to diplomatic exchanges; it has also permeated the arenas. During a preliminary game in Montreal, Canadian fans booed the U.S. national anthem, creating an atmosphere that escalated into physical confrontations on the ice. Within the first nine seconds of the game, three separate fights broke out, setting the tone for a fiercely contested match that saw Team USA leave Montreal with a 3-1 win.
How the “Star-Spangled Banner” sounded inside Bell Centre before USA-Canada at #4Nations.
Plenty of boos. pic.twitter.com/EFoKJMFuAh
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 16, 2025
USA vs. Canada started off in MADNESS 😳
📺: ABC/ESPN+/Disney+ pic.twitter.com/BrWlXzMb7J
— ESPN (@espn) February 16, 2025
Team USA faced a challenging environment, competing in front of a hostile crowd, yet they managed to rise above the adversity and secure victory. Now, as they prepare for the championship game on Thursday, they will have the advantage of playing on home ice with the support of their fans behind them.
This presents a prime opportunity for Team USA to capitalize on the momentum. With the energy of their fans and fellow Americans fueling them, they have a chance to establish their dominance early in the game and bring the trophy home, solidifying their place as the top team in the tournament.
So grab your beverage of choice, head for the couch, and cheer on Team USA.
