Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers Honored by President Trump at the White House

The Florida Panthers visited the White House on Monday to celebrate their first Stanley Cup championship, with President Donald Trump honoring the team for their historic victory. The ceremony largely focused on sports, though it was briefly delayed as Trump engaged in discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding a potential pause on tariffs, similar to the action he took with Mexico.

The Panthers, who captured their first title in June by defeating the Edmonton Oilers in a thrilling seven-game series, were praised by Trump for their resilience and improvement. “I watched the team get better and better and better,” he remarked, calling them “real champions” and applauding their determination in securing the Cup after falling short the previous year against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Trump made several references to Panthers owner Vinnie Viola, describing him as “a champion at everything he’s ever done.” Viola, a billionaire businessman and former Army officer, was briefly Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Army in 2016 before withdrawing from consideration. His team’s home in Sunrise, Florida, is just 48 miles from Mar-a-Lago, one of Trump’s residences.

As a token of appreciation, the Panthers gifted Trump a framed red “Trump 45-47” jersey, symbolizing his past and potential future presidential terms. Viola, along with Finnish captain Aleksander Barkov and American forward Matthew Tkachuk, also presented him with a “Trump 47” jersey and a gold hockey stick.

Trump highlighted the Panthers journey from losing the Stanley Cup Final in 2023 to winning it all in 2024, drawing a lighthearted comparison to his own political comeback. “You gave the fans one of the most riveting comebacks in NHL history, in any sport history,” he said. “I don’t know anything about a comeback, but they tell me it’s very nice.”

Tkachuk, the lone U.S.-born player from the Panthers championship roster, expressed gratitude for the White House visit and his American roots. “Being one of the few Americans who loves this country so much, this is such an incredible day for myself,” he said. “You wake up every day really grateful to be an American, so thank you.”

The Panthers White House celebration came ahead of their Tuesday night matchup against the Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena. With a Stanley Cup to their name and a presidential visit in the books, Florida is now focused on continuing their success in the NHL.

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