Trump takes swipe at past admins' Afghanistan handling as he praises Panthers team owner

President Donald Trump took a changeable astatine past administrations’ handling of Afghanistan arsenic helium welcomed the Florida Panthers to the White House to observe their Stanley Cup title.

The Panthers were the archetypal squad to sojourn the White House successful Trump’s 2nd word arsenic president.

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President Donald Trump speaks arsenic Vincent Viola, squad proprietor of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers hockey team, left, listens during a ceremonial to grant the squad successful the East Room of the White House, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, successful Washington.  (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The president spoke highly of squad proprietor Vincent Viola earlier helium fto him accidental a fewer words astir his squad that won the Stanley Cup successful an epic seven-game bid against the Edmonton Oilers. Trump called Viola a "real champion" who loves the military.

"He’s a existent champion successful everything he’s ever done. Loves the military," Trump said. "First happening helium did, I spot him, ‘You gotta bash this with the Army. You gotta determination them here. You gotta put…’ He’s giving maine each the instructions. You emotion the military.

"You know, we shoulda had you successful Afghanistan alternatively of the characters we had. It would’ve turned retired a small spot different."

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President Donald Trump shakes hands with squad skipper Aleksander Barkov during a ceremonial with the Florida Panthers NHL hockey squad to observe their 2024 Stanley Cup win, successful the East Room of the White House, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, successful Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The U.S. invaded Afghanistan successful 2001 pursuing the Sept. 11, 2001, panic attacks successful hopes of toppling the Taliban and uncovering Usama bin Laden.

As the U.S. finalized its propulsion retired from Afghanistan, termination bombers launched an onslaught astatine Hamid Karzai International Airport's Abbey Gate. Thirteen American servicemembers were killed on with 170 Afghan civilians.

In Trump’s archetypal administration, Viola was successful the moving for U.S. Army caput earlier helium withdrew from consideration. The billionaire businessman attended the U.S. Military Academy astatine West Point and yet served with the 101st Airborne Division astatine Fort Campbell.

Always Dreaming proprietor Vinnie Viola holds the trophy aft winning the 2017 Kentucky Derby astatine Churchill Downs. (Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports)

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Viola bought the squad successful 2013 and the squad has made the playoff six times, including 5 consecutive from the 2019-20 play to the 2023-24 season. The squad made the Stanley Cup Final successful 2023 lone to suffer to the Vegas Golden Knights successful 5 games.

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