Panthers score White House kudos from Trump as tariff fight ramps up
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If it felt like Canada was in the penalty box on Monday, it only got worse when a team south of the border was celebrated for winning Canada’s most prized trophy.
While U.S. President Donald Trump was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday afternoon to discuss delaying the tariff war between their countries, the American leader also made some time to congratulate the Florida Panthers on their 2024 Stanley Cup victory.
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The Panthers defeated Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in a hard-fought, seven-game series.
“Congratulations to the Florida Panthers on just a wonderful season,” Trump said as Panthers players and coaches gathered inside the White House. “You made your state and your country very proud.”
More than seven months after the Panthers won their first Cup, they were the first sports team to visit Trump during his second term as president.
Team members flew from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Dulles International Airport earlier Monday on the heels of a 6-3 win over the New York Islanders in Sunrise, Fla., a day earlier.
Trump offered well-wishes to various players and also made mention of his friend Wayne Gretzky, who Trump said had a few days earlier referenced his playing days alongside tough guy Marty McSorley.
“Maybe you’ve heard of him,” Trump said.
Trump, who was inaugurated two weeks ago and has regularly commented on his desire to make Canada the 51st American state, was presented a No. 47 Trump Panthers jersey before We are the Champions played.
The Panthers, who face the Capitals in Washington on Tuesday, have picked up where they left off last season and sit atop the Atlantic Division at 32-19-3.
The Boston Celtics were the most recent team to be honoured at the White House in November after winning the NBA title on June 18 against the Dallas Mavericks. They met with former president Joe Biden.
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The Panthers hoisted the Stanley Cup six days after the Celtics won their title, defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Sunrise. Florida lost the 2023 championship series to the Vegas Golden Knights.
During Trump’s first term, 20 major sports teams won championships; however, only 10 celebrated at the White House. Some of those teams weren’t invited by Trump, while others said they didn’t want to go even if they had received an invitation.
The last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup was the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.
Commissioned in 1892, the Stanley Cup is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded in pro sports.
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