During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Trump paid tribute to various American heroes, including Olympic gold medalists and veterans.
He took a moment early in his speech to commend Team USA, the men’s hockey team that triumphed over Canada in the Olympic gold medal match just days prior. He announced that goaltender Connor Hellybuck would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The team chairman shared that the entire team felt Hellybuck deserved this recognition.
Trump mentioned, “I asked for a team vote and told them, ‘No matter how anyone votes, I’m going ahead with this.’ So no one really hesitated. I mean, I’ve never seen a goaltender perform like Hellybuck did. I think there were around 46 shots on goal.”
He continued, “Based on the team’s vote and my own decision, I believe they’ll be glad about this. In this particular case, my vote counts more. I’ll soon be awarding Connor the highest civilian honor, one that many athletes have received in the past,” he revealed.
Trump asserted, “Great athletes earn this…he absolutely deserved it.”
He received a particularly loud and enthusiastic cheer from the crowd when he honored the men’s hockey team, which was met with chants of “USA!”
Many Democrats clapped only briefly, but it was genuinely one of the loudest applause moments that evening.
While he also recognized the women’s hockey team, the applause wasn’t quite as enthusiastic as that for their male counterparts.
Transitioning to veterans, Trump highlighted George “Buddy” Taggart, a World War II veteran who will celebrate his 100th birthday on July 4th.
Trump expressed that Taggart “volunteered to defend America in World War II and served in the Pacific under General Douglas MacArthur.” He noted that Taggart “courageously fought in the Battle of Manila” and was seriously injured by enemy fire in Luzon.
“Eighty-one years ago this month, he played a crucial role in liberating one of the largest concentration camps in the Philippines,” the president stated.
He added, “Buddy has earned numerous honors, including a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Now, he’s looking ahead to his 100th birthday, coming up on July 4, 2026.”
Social media erupted with admiration for Taggart’s achievements and his upcoming milestone birthday.
Rep. Addison McDowell (R-North Carolina) remarked, “The spirit of 1776 flows through his veins. Thank you, buddy!” on social media.
Journalist Nick Sauter chimed in, calling him “a born patriot.”
Later that evening, the president also planned to award the Medal of Honor to E. Royce Williams, a 100-year-old Korean War veteran and former Navy captain known for shooting down four Soviet MiG-15 jets in a covert operation back in 1952.
