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Posted on 02/22/2026 4:50:54 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
President Donald Trump phoned Team USA men's hockey stars after they beat rivals Canada to secure a first Winter Olympics gold medal in nearly half a century.
Mike Sullivan's team came from behind to beat their bitter rivals 2-1 in overtime - just days after the US women's team won gold in exactly the same fashion.
Sunday morning's clash with Canada in Milan captured the attention of fans on both sides of the border, including in the White House.
And after landing a first gold in men's hockey since 1980, Team USA received a congratulatory call from the President, who even reportedly invited the players to his State of the Union address on Tuesday.
'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.'
Among those in the stands on Sunday was FBI director Kash Patel, who flew 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 was a business trip.
After Sunday's game, Patel paid tribute to the victorious US team and headed into the locker room to join in the celebrations.
'Unity, Sacrifice, Attitude- what it takes to be the best in the world,' Patel posted on social media alongside a selection of pictures of him enjoying the postgame party.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
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😀😀🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Didn’t see Patel but in an interview at least one of the players was drunk and holding a beer.
Patel was there looking for Virginia Guthrie.
A little outside his jurisdiction.
Grok, did Kash Patel fly out to the olympics using an FBI plane?
Grok:
Yes, according to multiple reports, Kash Patel, as FBI Director, flew to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, using an FBI (or Justice Department) aircraft, specifically a Gulfstream jet.
Reliable sources including CBS News, MS NOW (MSNBC-affiliated), Forbes, The New York Times, and others confirm this based on public flight data, sources familiar with the matter, and flight tracking:
- He departed the U.S. on Thursday (around February 19, 2026) aboard the government plane, landing in Italy that evening.
- The trip’s estimated cost to taxpayers was reported as up to $75,000, given hourly operating costs of around $5,000 for the jet.
- Patel, a known hockey enthusiast who plays and has coached the sport, attended men’s ice hockey medal rounds, including celebrating Team USA’s gold medal win in the locker room (with video evidence circulating).
The FBI has denied that the trip was purely personal, stating it was planned months in advance and included official meetings with Italian law enforcement, security officials, and other briefings. A spokesperson emphasized that FBI directors are required to use government aircraft for security and communications reasons, even for non-commercial travel. However, critics (including in media reports and on social media) have highlighted it amid ongoing scrutiny over Patel’s prior use of the jet for events like hockey games, UFC fights, and personal trips, with some calling it an abuse of taxpayer resources.
This occurred during the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics (not Paris 2024, which was summer), and reports tie directly to his presence at hockey events there. No evidence suggests otherwise from the available coverage.
> The FBI has denied that the trip was purely personal, stating it was planned months in advance and included official meetings with Italian law enforcement <
I actually feel bad for Director Patel. Evidently no one has shown him how to use a secure device for remote conferencing. So he’s forced to fly to Italy for a meeting.
Are they on drugs? The US never trailed.
What is Kash doing there?
Glad to hear Kash Patel has nothing better to do given all the criminals on the left still on the loose. I feel better that he is there for us.
SO HAPPY FOR TEAM USA..I hope this is an omen for the remainder of this year, a true miracle on ice
Who cares? Director of FBI can’t just jump on Jet Blue. And he’s entitled to some perks.
It’s Sunday. I assume Kash will be back in DC by Monday.
I’m glad a high ranking member of the administration was there,
What a great team!
What an inspiration!
Having a uniform made for that fellow and skating it around the rink!
And having his kids in the photos!
What great guys!
Jack Hughes was overwhelmed with American pride after scoring the game-winning goal in sudden death overtime against Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, earning Team USA its first goal medal in men’s hockey in 46 years.
“This is all about our country right now,” Hughes, 24, told NBC Sports’ Kathryn Tappen shortly after the game. “I love the USA. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable. The USA hockey brotherhood is so strong. We had so much support from ex-players. I’m so proud to be an American today.”
Leftists are crashing out about it on twitter . Delicious.
Apparently you’ve forgotten that it’s commonplace to scrutinize and criticize every move an FBI Director and other administration officials make.
Well, starting in 2017 at least, with a four year hiatus that expired early last year.
The fact remains:
From the Daily Mail (puke) article: "...The FBI has denied that the trip was purely personal, stating it was planned months in advance and included official meetings with Italian law enforcement, security officials, and other briefings. A spokesperson emphasized that FBI directors are required to use government aircraft for security and communications reasons, even for non-commercial travel..."
Many people may not like that. And the FBI source quoted was wrong to even frame it like that saying it was planned months in advance, BECAUSE IT IS FULLY AND WHOLLY IRRELEVANT. It makes no difference if he planned it months ago, or if he decided to go JUST TO WATCH THE HOCKEY GAME THREE DAYS AGO. It makes no difference.
The key point is: Patel is classified as a "required use traveller" meaning he is mandated by Congress to travel on government aircraft, even for personal trips, to maintain access to secure communications equipment at all times.
MANDATED. NOT SUGGESTED. NOT DISCOURAGED. NOT PROHIBITED.
MANDATED.
The President doesn't take commercial flights. The VP doesn't take commercial flights. The CIA Director doesn't take commercial flights. And neither does the FBI Director. Never have in my lifetime that I can recall.
If people don't like it, they should campaign on getting it changed, or if they were even the least bit honest, to contrast and compare with previous FBI Directors.
Ben Williamson, the FBI's Assistant Director for Public Affairs says in a statement defending Patel which mirrors my points: ""...Chris Wray took 772 trips during his tenure, and nearly two-thirds of them departed from Washington's DCA airport, costing around $3.9 million (approx. Rs 32.5 crore), which is roughly $2.2 million (approx Rs 18.3 crore) more than if he had used government airfields.
James Comey took nearly 500 trips, about half of which also departed from DCA. Those flights cost over $1.8 million (approx Rs 15 crore), around $1 million (approx Rs 8.3 crore) higher than they would've been had he made the same cost-saving choices Director Patel now makes, Williamson wrote.
He further mentioned that Patel rarely takes personal trips and remains on duty 24/7.
"Kash himself has significantly limited personal travel but he's allowed to take personal time on occasion to see family, friends or his longtime girlfriend. He doesn't do it often. He works far more full weekends than he does otherwise. And maybe most importantly - ask anyone who works for him, he's on duty 24/7 regardless," Williamson stated..."
I hate having to put up with this kind of thing from the Media and every other hostile entity who just want their pound of flesh. And I see it on here too, on Free Republic. But the SALIENT point is, if he WANTS to go to Italy to watch his grandchildren graduate, to simply visit Capri, OR WATCH THE AMERICAN HOCKEY TEAM COMPLETE IN THE OLYMPICS, he can do it, because every other FBI Director has done it, for far worse reasons, and with less of an eye on money.
If people here want to badmouth him for what he has or hasn't done, it is a free country. As an American, you have a right to gripe, but if you are honest and thoughtful, which many in this country, in the government, the media ARE NOT, those are the rules.
I fully expect Leftists to be dishonest about this. And I excuse people who don't know how this is done who gripe about, because we cannot know everything.
If people don't like this, I get that. If you feel strongly enough about it, get involved in an effort to change those requirements. Contact your Congressional delegation to change the rules. Start a movement to lobby for a change.
I love that photo. Tooth (teeth?) knocked out during the game, still bloody, smile as big as life itself and holding the flag proudly. Good on Hughes! And Hellebuyck, too. Damn good goalie. The whole team gave it their all. Helluva game to watch.
It just makes it ten times cooler that the team adopted Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd as their theme song. Thank God for that. It could have been something stupid like Taylor Swift, or Springsteen. What’s more American than Lynyrd Skynyrd and Free Bird?
I was on another thread where all those excellent toothless old-time hockey player photos were posted!
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