During a celebratory event on Thursday, President Donald Trump lauded the Florida Panthers for their remarkable playoff performance, which culminated in a second consecutive Stanley Cup win in 2025. In his address, he humorously acknowledged the team’s striking appearance and formidable presence, jesting about their ability to steal his spotlight. “These are some good-looking, young individuals,” Trump quipped, before jokingly expressing his envy. “Standing here with such power behind me, it’s a little intimidating. But I have my own power—the United States military,” he added with a grin.

The championship team members were clad in attire typical of Trump’s preference, donning navy blue suits, white shirts, and vibrant red ties, albeit some opting for subtler shades of red. After extolling their success, the players’ charisma, and the amiable nature of the team’s management, Trump mentioned the players would stroll through his newly established Presidential Walk of Fame. This West Wing feature, facing the Rose Garden, showcases portraits of former presidents alongside plaques detailing their achievements or controversies. While some have critiqued these gold-framed portraits as ostentatious, Trump was more amused by the name’s resemblance to “the walk of shame” during his remarks.

“We’re taking a tour past the Presidential Wall of Fame,” Trump noted before sharing a humorous anecdote. “I had to choose between a walk of fame and a wall of fame. You can guess which I picked,” he explained, with a chuckle. “The term ‘walk’ made me think of the ‘walk of shame,’ so I hesitated.” The Panthers delighted the president with a golden hockey stick, a gift that complemented the White House’s glitzy new decor. While delivering his speech, Trump caught sight of the gleaming stick and admitted his desire for it, jokingly asserting his presidential authority to claim it if he wished.

Florida Panthers Matthew Tkachuk gave Trump the stick and noted how it would be handy in a game to slash opposing players. The president smiled and repeated the player, ‘Good for slashing,’ he said. Sticking it to his northern neighbors, the president joked that he was proud that the Florida team was able to beat the Edmonton Oilers and deny Canada a Stanley Cup victory. ‘You denied Canada the Stanley Cup,’ he proclaimed.

‘We have a little competition’ with Canada, he added while calling the endeavor the ‘most dominant playoff run in history.’ In addition to the golden stick, the Panthers awarded the president with a jersey emblazoned with the number 47, an ode to Trump serving as the 47th president of the US.