Donald Trump’s administration got the last laugh over former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and their neighbors to the north on Sunday.
The USA clinched victory over Canada in a blockbuster bust-up between the two bitter rivals to claim its first Winter Olympics gold medal in hockey since the ‘Miracle on Ice’ in 1980.
Jack Hughes, missing one of his front teeth, scored the golden goal in dramatic fashion just over a minute in overtime, sparking pandemonium from the American players and fans in Milan.
But the celebrations weren’t reserved to the Santa Giulia Arena as Americans went wild back home Stateside too.
And even The White House got in on the action as its official X account seized the chance to troll the Canadians.
Shortly after Team USA emerged victorious, the account shared a photo of a bald eagle digging its talons into the head of a Canadian goose in a clear symbolic dig.
The White House trolled Canada and Justin Trudeau on social media after the USA’s gold win
The Americans clinched Winter Olympic gold over Canada in a thrilling overtime clash
The image was posted in response to a previous tweet from former Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau from last year’s 4 Nations: Face-Off tournament.
‘You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game,’ Trudeau wrote last February – almost a year to the day – when Canada beat the United States in the NHL’s international tournament.
The inaugural tournament – which had seen Canada, the US, Finland and Sweden face off in a round-robin-style event – had taken place amid a tense political backdrop.
The rivalry between the neighboring countries had turned sour heading into the final when Trump repeatedly stoked the fire.
The US President referred to Justin Trudeau as ‘governor’ in a brutal swipe at the Canadian prime minister ahead of the hockey showdown.
He had also stated to desire to make the country America’s 51st state on multiple occasions and threatened to impose outrageous tariffs on Canada pushing the two nations to the brink of an outright trade war.
The rivalry had raged on on the Olympic stage with USA star Brady Tkachuk claiming that there was hatred between the two teams ahead of Sunday’s gold-medal game.
‘For us, we want to be in that position, be the best,’ the Ottawa Senators star told ESPN. ‘So it’s going to be a game where I think a lot of guys could say, this is the biggest game that they’ve ever played in.’
Donald Trump had fanned the flames of the rivalry during last year’s 4 Nations: Face-Off
Devastated Canadian stars Mitch Marner (L) and Connor McDavid (R) wait for the silver medals
The US had not beaten Canada in a gold medal game since the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, where New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter came away with tournament MVP honors for stifling a Canadian attack that included Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Eric Lindros.
But they turned the tides in Milan after Hughes scored 1:41 into overtime to break the deadlock and claim gold.
The USA’s women’s team had also emerged victorious over Canada, claiming gold earlier in the week, marking a sweep for the Americans in hockey.
Trump took to Truth Social to praise Hughes and his team, writing on Sunday: ‘Congratulations to our great U.S.A. Ice Hockey team. THEY WON THE GOLD. WOW! WHAT A GAME!!!’
Amid Trump’s praise, an emotional Hughes said seconds after his goal: ‘This is all about our country right now. I love the USA. I’m so proud to be American today. I love my country, I love my teammates.
‘That’s American hockey right there. That’s a great Canadian team but this means so much. We are such a team. The USA brotherhood in this team is so strong, so much support from ex-players. I cannot believe this. It could have gone either way tonight.’
More to follow.
