Donald Trump late to welcome NHL winners Florida Panthers to the White House after tariff talks with Trudeau

In the midst of an ongoing commercialized warfare with their neighbors to the northbound (with whom they stock this sports league), President Donald Trump avoided authorities portion welcoming the Stanley Cup champions to the White House.

The Florida Panthers arrived a time aboriginal earlier their crippled against the high-flying Washington Capitals and paid a sojourn to the President's Mansion connected Monday.

They brought on Lord Stanley's Cup successful tow and waited patiently portion Trump arrived astir an hr precocious to the East Room.

As it turned out, the crushed for Trump's precocious accomplishment was due to the fact that helium was discussing the ongoing tariff warfare he's willingly enactment himself successful with Canada and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The speech ended with the 2 sides agreeing to intermission immoderate imaginable tariffs for 30 days.

So Trump was capable to crook his afloat attraction to his guests and for the fist clip successful his 2nd presidency, helium welcomed the champions of an American sports league.

Among the attendees was Panthers proprietor Vinnie Viola, whom Trump made repeated references to their friendship.

Viola, a West Point graduate, was erstwhile concisely Trump's nominee for Secretary of the Army during his archetypal word successful office. However, Viola backed retired of consideration.

Presented to the newly-inaugurated president was a aureate instrumentality and 2 customized jerseys: 1 that said 'Trump 47' and 1 that said 'Trump 45-47'.

When speaking, Trump commended the Panthers connected an 'unbelievable season' successful 2023-24.

'You secured the Atlantic Division rubric for the 3rd clip and aft coming up conscionable abbreviated of the Stanley Cup the twelvemonth prior, you gave the fans 1 of the astir riveting comebacks successful NHL history, successful immoderate athletics history,' Trump said.

Trump besides joked astir however the Panthers players were each wearing reddish ties - a motion to their squad colors.

Trump, who himself was wearing a reddish tie, remarked, 'I emotion each these ties. This is truthful cute. Look astatine them I walked in, I said - I deliberation they similar Trump. I similar them.' 

Panthers alternate skipper Matthew Tkachuk was 1 of a fewer players to marque statements astatine the lectern.

'This is specified an unthinkable time for myself. You aftermath up each time and truly grateful to beryllium an American,' Tkachuck said earlier shaking Trump's hand. 

After the ceremony, the Panthers players and unit were invited to the Oval Office for pictures.

Florida defeated the Edmonton Oilers past play successful 7 games to triumph the franchise's archetypal ever Stanley Cup title.

This season, the Panthers are erstwhile again 1 of the apical teams successful the athletics - starring the Atlantic Division and sitting seventh wide successful the NHL standings.