In a lively turn of events, a video has surfaced showing former President Donald Trump extending his congratulations to Team USA’s men’s hockey team following their triumphant win at the Winter Olympics. The team celebrated a hard-fought victory over their arch-rivals, Canada, clinching the game 2-1 in a thrilling overtime finish. This victory echoed the recent success of the U.S. women’s team, who also secured gold under similar dramatic circumstances.

Trump’s congratulatory call came soon after the team’s victory, as he reached out to Mike Sullivan’s squad to commend their performance. During the call, he made a lighthearted remark about the women’s team, adding levity to the moment.

Amidst the celebrations, Kash Patel, who was in Milan for the Olympic final, joined the players in their jubilant locker room festivities. A video has circulated showing Patel, seemingly in high spirits, enjoying a beer and celebrating alongside the team.

In a separate video released on Sunday night, Patel is seen facilitating a phone call with Trump, where the former president lauded the players for their achievement and offered his personal congratulations for their gold medal performance.

In a gesture of goodwill, Trump extended an invitation to the team to attend his upcoming State of the Union address. “I can send a military plane or something,” he proposed, to the apparent delight of the players. “It’s the coolest night,” he added, emphasizing the unique perks of his presidential role. “The nice thing about being president is you don’t have to worry about the weather or landing… we don’t care if it’s snowing, if it’s the worst blizzard.”

‘I can send a military plane or something. If you would like to, it’s the coolest night,’ he said, much to the team’s excitement. ‘The nice thing about being president is you don’t have to worry about the weather or landing… we don’t care if it’s snowing, if it’s the worst blizzard.’

Jack Hughes scored the winning golden goal as USA beat Canada for Olympic gold

The team enjoyed wild celebrations in the locker room following their victory on Sunday

Hilary Knight led the US women’s team to a gold medal with another dramatic win over Canada

He continued: ‘We will do the White House the next day, we will just have some fun, we have medals for you guys.’ 

The president then cracked a joke that left the team in hysterics. ‘And I must tell you, we are going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.’ Trump then added that, if he didn’t invite them: ‘I do believe I would probably be impeached!’

Trump said he would put Patel in charge of organizing the trip, with the FBI Director responding: ‘I’m f***ing on it!’

The Commander-in-chief continued: ‘I’m going to shake hands with everybody, but I’ve got to shake hands with that goalie.’

Connor Hellebuyck put in a stunning performance, saving 41 of 42 shots to keep Canada at bay in Sunday’s final. 

‘Your goalie played not bad… I have seen hockey goalies have slightly worse games than him,’ Trump joked before Hellebuyck responded by calling the president ‘Dad.’ 

Trump continued: ‘Unbelievable. And you were all unbelievable. That team was pretty good that you played… you’re going to be proud of that game for 50 years as you grow older. It was amazing, we love you guys.’

Sullivan later shed more light on the call after leading Team USA to a first gold in men’s hockey since 1980.

FBI director Kash Patel is pictured inside the locker room alongside Team USA hockey stars

Patel took pictures with a number of players after they secured Olympic glory in Milan

‘He just spoke to the group expressing how proud he was of the group and congratulating everybody on the win,’ Sullivan revealed. ‘Obviously this game in a lot of ways was an inspiration to our country.

‘I can’t tell you how many texts I’ve received over the last day or so about watch parties at eight in the morning. I think from a viewership standpoint in the United States, there were a lot of people paying attention, the president included.’

Trump previously spoke to Team USA ahead of last year’s 4 Nations final against Canada, when they lost to Canada amid heightened tensions between the two nations.

‘We’re all proud Americans, obviously,’ captain Auston Matthews said on Sunday. ‘This is a huge moment for us. A huge moment for the United States. He called, just congratulated us.’

Matthews said that the team might visit the White House to celebrate but with a blizzard back home – and the return of the NHL on Wednesday – he admitted it could prove tricky.

‘I think there’s a lot of moving parts as far as our travels back home. We’ll see what happens,’ Matthews said.

‘It’s an honor to wear this jersey and to represent the US. To go home with a gold medal. You know how much that means to guys in this room, to people watching and rooting us on too.’

Hughes celebrates after scoring the goal that secured Team USA gold against Canada 

Patel – an amateur hockey player and avid fan – risked the wrath of voters by partying with the team after flying to Italy earlier this week on a government jet. His journey to Europe, which could cost taxpayers up to $75,000, sparked a backlash – despite the FBI insisting: ‘It is not a personal trip.’

A viral video, shared on social media by outlets including ProPublica and the Washington Post, appears to show Patel drinking and spraying a bottle of beer. He then bangs on a table and celebrates wildly before a gold medal is draped over his neck.

The FBI director had earlier posted pictures from inside the locker room. He posed alongside Sullivan and a number of players including Jack Hughes, who scored the goal that secured gold.

The photos and videos sparked fury among many Americans, given the FBI’s claims that Patel was in Italy on business. 

His trip also comes at a time when law enforcement is tackling a number of high-profile cases such as the search for Nancy Guthrie and the death of a gunman shot at Mar-a-Lago.

But Patel later hit back on social media: ‘For the very concerned media – yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys – Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.’ 

He had earlier written, alongside a selection of pictures of him enjoying the postgame party: ‘Unity, Sacrifice, Attitude- what it takes to be the best in the world.

The historic goal from Hughes sparked bedlam in the arena in Milan on Sunday 

‘These men live and breathe it. Now Team USA are gold medal champions, legends standing on the shoulders of giants. Thank you for representing the greatest country on earth, in the greatest game ever created.’

Amid the initial controversy over Patel’s flight, FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson insisted the director was on a business trip ‘that was planned months ago.’ 

He said Patel had traveled for meetings with ambassadors, Italian law enforcement and US agents stationed at the Legat. He also noted that the bureau ‘has a major role in Olympic security.’

A source familiar with the director’s role told the Daily Mail that the FBI ‘will be in charge of security completely for FIFA [World Cup] and the 2028 American Olympics.’

‘So if you don’t like to get blown up [at] major events, be grateful he is putting in this work now,’ the source fumed.