Trump’s Pep Talk to Team USA: "Canada Will Be Our 51st State"
President Donald Trump, despite his absence at the 4 Nations Face-Off championship between Team USA and Canada, reached out to the Americans with a phone call filled with support and a bold proclamation.
In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump reiterated his belief that Canada would eventually join the United States as its 51st state. This sentiment carried over into his conversation with the team as they gathered in the locker room of TD Garden in Boston ahead of the highly anticipated game.
"It was so awesome to get his support," said J.T. Miller, one of the three Americans who engaged in a gloves-off confrontation in the first bout of the USA-Canada matchup. "It’s a pretty big deal for him to take time out of his schedule to talk to us for five minutes."
Team USA general manager Bill Guerin acknowledged the 51st state reference made by Trump during the call. However, he emphasized the importance of focusing on the game itself. "We’re here to play hockey. This is not a political forum," Guerin stated. "He’s just trying to be supportive in the best way that he could, and we appreciate it."
Guerin further elaborated on Trump’s message: "He was just very supportive and just said, ‘Hey, you guys are going to do great. It’s going to be a great game. Just relax and play.’"
The players expressed their gratitude for Trump’s support and recognized the significance of the moment. "It’s the president of the United States," said defenseman Brock Faber. "When you’re a kid, you don’t ever think that’s going to be a possibility. It was really cool."
Forward Brock Nelson added, "It’s pretty, pretty wild, and it’s an honor for all of us in here to represent your country and to get a call from the president." He also observed that the call highlighted the importance of the game beyond the realm of hockey.
Matt Boldy, another forward on the team, commented on the significance of the event as well. "Obviously, he’s a very influential person in the world. It’s special. I think it speaks to how good the tournament’s been for hockey and the exposure that’s been given to a new group of fans."
The rivalry between the United States and Canada in hockey has always been intense, but the current political tensions between the two nations have added an extra layer of heat to the competition. Canada holds a 13-4-1 advantage over Team USA in best-on-best play, including victories in the 2002 and 2010 Olympics and a semifinal win in the 2014 Olympics.
As the puck drops for the championship game at 8 p.m. ET in Boston, Team USA will carry with them the support and well wishes of President Donald Trump, who remains confident that Canada will one day become the 51st state of the United States.
