Donald Trump didn’t hesitate to take another shot at Canada amid his rivalry with the United States’ neighbors to the north when he welcomed the reigning Stanley Cup champions on Thursday.
The president hosted the NHL’s Florida Panthers at the White House for a second consecutive year to toast their victory in the cup last season as is tradition for American sports teams.
Yet, amid his congratulations, the 79-year-old seized the chance to take a sly dig at Canada – almost one year after he fanned the flames of the rivalry between Team USA and the True North during the Four Nations hockey tournament.
‘You denied Canada the Stanley Cup for the 32nd straight year,’ Trump praised the Panthers, referencing Canada’s lengthy winless drought in their own national sport.
‘We have a little competition with Canada,’ Trump continued after applause. ‘They’re great people, though. They’re great people.
‘We’re doing much better than Canada, but that’s OK, right? We want them to do well, and they’re gonna do well.’
Donald Trump didn’t hesitate to take another shot at Canada as he hosted the Florida Panthers
The president welcomed the NHL team to the White House to celebrate their Stanley Cup win
The Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup for a second straight year, extending Canada’s drought once again. The Montreal Canadiens were the last Canadian-based team to win the cup back in the 1992-93 season.
The barb wasn’t the first time that Trump has attempted to agitate the USA’s allies through the two nations’ historic and fierce hockey rivalry.
The rivalry between the neighboring countries turned sour heading into the final of last year’s Four Nations Face-Off last February amid the controversy surrounding Trump and his repeated verbal attacks on Canada.
The tournament took place amid the background of rising political tensions as Trump threatened an additional 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico.
The president also repeated poked fun at Canada by referring to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as ‘governor’ and the nation as the ’51st state.’
Both the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ and ‘O Canada’ were booed by opposing American and Canadian fans when played ahead of the clashes between the USA and Canada.
Trump’s latest sports-fueled jibe comes less than a month before the Winter Olympics kick off in Milan Cortina.
The sporting extravaganza, which kicks off on February 6, is expected to see the US and Canada – both the men’s and women’s teams – face off for gold yet again.
Trump repeated took digs at Canadian during last year’s Four Nations hockey tournament. Pictured: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney
The Commander=in-Chief fanned the flames of the fierce rivalry between the two nations
During the Panthers’ Stanley Cup celebration, Trump also gushed over the NHL stars’ strapping physiques and good looks.
‘Good-looking people, young beautiful people, I hate them,’ the president joked, alluding to the players stealing his spotlight.
‘You hate standing here with all this power behind you. But I got power too. It’s called the United States military.’
The team made the president smile with a gift of a golden hockey stick, a present that would fit in well, given the White House’s new dazzling decor.
While delivering his speech, Trump spotted the glistening hockey stick and admitted that he wanted it. He joked that as president, he could take it if he wanted to.
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.
