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President Donald Trump honored the 1980 U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team with a signing ceremony in the Oval Office on Friday.
“This is very exciting. This was one of the greatest moments in American sports. We have a very exciting team of champions behind me,” Trump said as several members of the team attended. “This was an amazing event. There were some other disturbances in the world – I didn’t notice them getting any of these, did you? You’re the only ones. It’s amazing.
“We are pleased to be joined today by legends of American sports history and heroes of the entire nation: the 1980 U.S. Olympic ice hockey team. This was one of the greatest moments I have ever seen in sports, and I like sports. These are the men who gave us one of the most famous athletic victories of all time.”
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President Donald Trump, with the 1980 US Olympic men’s ice hockey team, holds a bill to honor the team in the Oval Office of the White House on December 13, 2025 in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The team members wore the hats they donned at the 1980 opening ceremony, and team captain Mike Eruzione awarded Trump with a replica.
“More importantly, I don’t think words can explain how proud we are of what you’ve done for our team. The honor you’ve brought to our team is incredible.”
Goalie Jim Craig thanked Trump for “the courage you show the country every single day and for making our country safe again.”
“The pride we felt in 1980 was incredible, and we are beginning to feel that again thanks to your leadership,” added Bill Baker.
“My dad, he believed. He believed in the American hockey player, he believed in his country, he loved this team, he loved his country. I wish he was here, but it’s an honor to represent him.”
Team USA players celebrate on the ice after winning their medal round win against the USSR in the Olympic Fieldhouse at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, NY, February 22, 1980. (Eric Schweikardt/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
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Herb Brooks’ son, Dan, was also in attendance.
Trump signed HR 452, which awarded “Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 US Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team in recognition of the team’s performance at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games.”
The team, which featured amateurs and college players, completed the “Miracle on Ice” in a stunning upset of the Soviets, who were considered the favorites and an international powerhouse for years. The win catapulted the Americans into a shot at gold, which the Stars and Stripes accomplished by defeating Finland two days later.
The Soviets had famously toppled the United States in a pre-Olympic exhibition game at Madison Square Garden, but the Americans got hot at the right time. In the game, the Russians famously benched longtime starting goaltender Vladislav Tretiak after he allowed a goal with just one second left in the first period that tied the game at two.
The Americans trailed, 3-2, entering the third, but Mark Johnson tied the game midway through the final period. Less than two minutes later, Eruzione scored what was ultimately the game-winning goal and was mobbed on the ice.
Mike Eruzione at the 1980 Winter Olympics. (Heinz Kluetmeier/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
“Miracle on Ice” comes from Al Michaels’ famous play-by-play call in which he rhetorically asked viewers, “Do you believe in miracles?” He answered his own question with an emphatic, “Yes!”
