US President Donald Trump once again found a way to turn a routine work engagement into a way to throw shade at a political enemy – this time using a Stanley Cup victory lap to needle America’s quiet northern neighbors Canada. Hosting the Florida Panthers at the White House in order to mark their latest NHL triumph, the president mixed praise with provocation, aiming a verbal dig towards The Great White North during what was supposed to be a feel-good meet-and-greet ceremony. The moment landed easily with the crowd, though it also revived a familiar sporting rivalry that has sharpened under President Trump’s watch. (Picture: Getty Images)
The Panthers’ visit followed tradition, with championship teams often paraded through The White House. But Trump wasted little time before managing to shoehorn in an attack aimed north of the border. ‘You denied Canada the Stanley Cup for the 32nd straight year,’ he told the players, drawing laughter and applause. The remark referenced a drought that has quietly become a national sore spot in Canada, despite ice hockey being a huge part of Canada’s cultural identity. (Picture: Getty Images)
Trump quickly leaned into the moment, framing the jab as friendly rivalry rather than outright antagonism. ‘We have a little competition with Canada,’ he said, before softening the blow. ‘They’re great people, though. They’re great people.’ The balance of praise and poke is a familiar Trump move, though it rarely lands neutrally. Moments later, he doubled down with another somewhat rather more patronising line: ‘We’re doing much better than Canada, but that’s okay, right? We want them to do well, and they’re gonna do well.’ (Picture: Getty Images)
The backdrop to the friendlyish barb was Florida’s latest Stanley Cup win over the Edmonton Oilers, a repeat of last year’s final that extended Canada’s long wait for hockey’s biggest prize. The Montreal Canadiens remain the last Canadian franchise to lift the Cup, way back in the 1992-93 season. Three decades on, the drought has become an easy punchline for US sports fans. (Picture: Getty Images)
Trump’s Canada commentary has plenty of context, to be fair to the POTUS. The ice hockey rivalry between the two countries has heated up in recent years, occasionally spilling well beyond sport. Tensions were already simmering during last February’s Four Nations Face-Off, where competitive edge met political undertone. Trump had spent months lobbing rhetorical grenades across the border, leaving fans primed to see games as symbolic showdowns rather than simple sporting contests. (Picture: Getty Images)
That tournament unfolded against a backdrop of broader friction, including Trump’s threats to impose an additional 25% tariff on imports from Canada. He also repeatedly mocked former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, labeling him a ‘governor’ while referring to Canada as ‘The 51st State.’ The comments didn’t land unnoticed. During USA-Canada clashes, both the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ and ‘O Canada’ were booed by rival fans. It got spicy. (Picture: Getty Images)
The timing of Trump’s latest taunt is notable, with the Winter Olympics now just a couple of weeks away. The Milan Cortina Games kick off on February 6, setting the stage for yet another potentially edgy US-Canada collision on hockey’s biggest international platform. Both the men’s and women’s teams are expected to challenge for gold, ensuring that the rivalry Trump enjoys poking will soon be playing out in front of a global audience. (Picture: Getty Images)
Back at The White House and Trump seemed to enjoy hosting the celebratory event, stopping to make a few more gags before it was over. Surveying the Panthers line-up, he joked about their looks and strength too. ‘Good-looking people, young beautiful people, I hate them,’ he said, before mock-complaining about being overshadowed. ‘You hate standing here with all this power behind you. But I got power too. It’s called the United States military.’ (Picture: Getty Images)
Later on, Panthers players presented Trump with a golden hockey stick, a gift that immediately caught the gold lover’s eye. After some faux-jostling, Trump joked that as president, he could simply take it if he wanted. Matthew Tkachuk eventually handed it over, quipping about its usefulness on the ice due to the material it’s made from. Trump repeated the line with a grin. ‘Good for slashing,’ he said, bringing the ceremony to a close with another aside. (Picture: Getty Images)Add as preferred source