Workforce USA acquired a congratulatory name from President Donald Trump and obtained to rejoice and share a beer with FBI Director Kash Patel after their historic gold-medal win.
Patel confirmed he was partying within the locker room with the American group after a video was posted to social media of him consuming a beer, spraying it within the locker room and yelling because the gamers sang Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the USA” after their thrilling 2-1 time beyond regulation win over Canada on the 2026 Milan Cortina Sport on Sunday.
Workforce USA ahead Matthew Tkachuk even put a gold medal round Patel’s neck.
“For the very involved media – sure, I really like America and was extraordinarily humbled when my pals, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Workforce USA, invited me into the locker room to rejoice this historic second with the boys- Biggest nation on earth and biggest sport on earth,” Patel wrote on his private X account.
Patel, a widely known hockey fan, additionally posted photographs of himself with the group. One included him with gamers — together with time beyond regulation hero Jack Hughes and the Tkachuk brothers — holding an American flag, and one other with USA and Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan because the group celebrated behind him.
Patel was sporting a white USA shirt.
“Unity, Sacrifice, Angle- what it takes to be the very best on the planet,” Patel posted on X. “These males reside and breathe it. Now Workforce USA are gold medal champions, legends standing on the shoulders of giants. Thanks for representing the best nation on earth, within the biggest sport ever created. congrats boys.”
Ben Williamson, assistant director of public affairs for the FBI, said on X on Feb 19 that Patel’s journey to Italy was not a private one and that it had been deliberate months in the past.
Williams said it included “conferences with Italian regulation enforcement and safety officers, a gathering with American Ambassador to Italy Tilam Fertitta and conferences with Legat workers, amongst different issues.
He added in a publish on Sunday, after Patel confronted backlash for being on the sport and celebrating with the group, that “another private bills could be reimbursed.”
The gold medal was the US’ first on the Olympics for the reason that “Miracle on Ice” group in Lake Placid in 1980 and the nation’s third general.
A video posted by the White Home’s Speedy Response account exhibits Patel holding up the telephone so Trump can congratulate the squad after the historic win.
“He simply spoke to the group expressing how proud he was of the group and congratulating everyone on the win,” coach Mike Sullivan stated. “Clearly this sport in numerous methods was an inspiration to our nation.
“I can’t inform you what number of texts I’ve acquired over the past day or so about watch events at 8 within the morning. I believe from a viewership standpoint in the US, there have been lots of people paying consideration, the president included.”
