The Florida Panthers celebrated their Stanley Cup win in patriotic fashion at the White House Thursday with President Donald Trump. No boycotting, no bad-mouthing, just love and respect for the country many on the team call home.

“On behalf of the whole organization and mainly the players, we are so honored to be here,” Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk told Trump. “Being an American, I know I said it last year, but I mean, nothing beats this. I’m so proud to be an American, and I’m so proud to be here with you and everybody else.”

The back-to-back NHL Stanley Cup Champs have transformed the Florida franchise. Though Tkachuk scored two goals in the Panthers’ Stanley Cup Final series, hanging out with the President is at the top of his list of accomplishments.

“The two Cups was pretty good, but that walk with you might’ve ‘Trumped’ it all there,” Tkachuk said, emphasizing the play on words. “That was pretty amazing.”

.@FlaPanthers star Matthew Tkachuk: “The two Cups was pretty good, but that walk with you might’ve Trumped it all… Nothing beats this. I’m so proud to be an American, and so proud to be here with you.” pic.twitter.com/r3LXfIU5fQ

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 15, 2026

As an honorary Floridian himself, Trump praised the Panthers for their historic accomplishments, including bringing the first-ever Stanley Cup to South Florida. The President said he watched some of the Panthers’ games last season and the players “know how to win.”

“It’s an honor to welcome to the White House the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers,” Trump said. “Unbelievable team, unbelievable athletes, players. These men are responsible for the greatest feats in Panthers’ franchise history.”

The President pointed out that he should be welcoming the three-time defending champions, but the Panthers lost in the final in 2023.

“The one that you didn’t make, what the hell happened to you? You should have won that game,” Trump said as the room erupted in laughter.

The Panthers gifted Trump a No. 47 jersey, a flashy championship ring, and a golden hockey stick, which Trump said will be “good for slashing.”

Trump loved the fact that the Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers, one of the NHL’s seven Canadian teams — a big win for the Team USA crowd.

“You denied Canada the Stanley Cup for the 32nd straight year,” Trump said. “We have a little competition with Canada … We’re doing much better than Canada, but that’s okay. We want them to do well, and they’re going to do well.”

Canada and the United States are just weeks away from competing in the Winter Olympics that start in February. Tkachuk, who was raised in Missouri, told Trump he cannot wait to put on the Team USA jersey.

“Representing you and the millions back here next month in the Olympics will be one of the highlights of my life as well,” he added, while looking toward the president.

The NHL will pause for the Olympics, but when the season picks back up at the end of February, Tkachuk told Trump to make room for another Panther’s championship ring in the White House.

“We’re not stopping now, we hope to be here next year.”

CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly met with interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday in Caracas to discuss economic cooperation and intensifying efforts against drug trafficking. 

An American official told The New York Times that the purpose of Ratcliffe’s meeting was “to deliver the message that the United States looks forward to an improved working relationship” with Venezuela. Rodriguez, who spoke with President Donald Trump during a phone call on Wednesday, became the interim leader of Venezuela after American forces captured dictator Nicolás Maduro.

“During the meeting in Caracas, Director Ratcliffe discussed potential opportunities for economic collaboration and that Venezuela can no longer be a safe haven for America’s adversaries, especially narcotraffickers,” an American official confirmed to CNN. 

The unidentified American official told the Times that allowing Rodriguez to remain in power for now would help prevent Venezuela from “descending into some chaotic situation” and would allow her to “cooperate and coordinate with the U.S. government.”

Before Maduro’s capture, the CIA carried out a reported strike on a Venezuelan port that U.S. officials said was used to load drugs onto boats bound for North America.

Earlier this month, Trump announced a controversial oil deal with Venezuela in which the country would provide the United States with between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned crude oil. With the money made from oil sales, Trump said that Venezuela would purchase American agricultural, medical, and electrical equipment. 

Ratcliffe’s meeting with Rodriguez came after Trump met with Venezuela opposition leader María Corina Machado. 

“María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done,” said Trump. “Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you, María!”

Top Trump officials have reiterated the administration’s commitment to long-term democratic elections in Venezuela; however, the president has not set a timeline for when elections might take place.

​​“We have to fix the country first. You can’t have an election. There’s no way the people could even vote,” Trump said in an interview last week. “No, it’s going to take a period of time. We have to nurse the country back to health.”