STORY: U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday (December 12) signed a bill awarding Congressional Gold Medals to members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team, celebrating the squad known for its “Miracle on Ice” 4-3 victory over the Soviet Union during the Lake Placid Winter Games.

Meeting in the Oval Office with several players from the team, Trump praised them as “true legends of American sports history,” calling their 1980 win “one of the biggest moments” he had seen in athletics.

Team captain Mike Eruzione presented Trump with a replica of the white hat worn by players during the Lake Placid opening ceremony, which the president briefly tried on before continuing his remarks. Trump recalled the long odds the U.S. team faced against a Soviet squad that had dominated Olympic hockey for more than a decade.

Eruzione said the medal recognition was “an absolutely incredible honor,” adding that wearing the USA jersey in 1980 meant representing the entire nation.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 12, 2025) (UNRESTRICTED POOL - Access all)

1. U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SITTING NEXT TO MEMBERS OF THE 1980 U.S. OLYMPIC MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM

2. WHITE HOUSE SECRETARY WILL SCHARF HANDING BILL TO TRUMP

3. TRUMP SIGNING BILL TO AWARD CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS TO MEMBERS OF THE 1980 U.S. OLYMPIC MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM

4. TRUMP SHOWING SIGNED BILL

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

“We're delighted to be joined today by true legends of American sports history and heroes for the entire nation. The 1980 U.S. Olympic ice hockey team. It was one of the biggest moments that I've ever seen in sports. And I like sports. These are the men who gave us one of the most storied athletic wins of all time. It's called the Miracle on Ice. And I guess that's what it was.”

6. TEAM CAPTAIN MIKE ERUZIONE HANDING REPLICA OF WHITE HAT WORN BY THE TEAM DURING THE 1980 WINTER OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY / ERUZIONE AND TRUMP SHAKING HANDS / TRUMP TRYING ON HAT

7. TRUMP SPEAKING WITH HIS HAT ON / TRUMP TAKING OFF HIS HAT

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

“The Soviets had not lost an Olympic Games since 1968, and they were coming off a fourth straight gold record, gold medals. In '64 they won the gold, '68, '72 and '76. Other than that, they weren't that good (laughs), they were great. And this was supposed to be the best team that they ever had. So it wasn't looking too sharp for our great champions behind me. As one American sportswriter put it, at the time, 'the whole world expected the Soviets to - end quote - unless the ice melts.’ So that wasn't a very good statement. But then it began. Despite the long odds, the Team USA blazed through the group stage, meeting other countries, went through them pretty easily, advancing to a long awaited rematch against the USSR. Three times we went down by a goal. For most of the game they were down by a goal. Three times. And then remarkable players put America back on top, where we always wanted to be.”

9. TRUMP SPEAKING/ TEAM BEHIND HIM

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 1980 U.S. OLYMPIC MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM CAPTAIN, MIKE ERUZIONE, SAYING:

“This is an absolutely incredible honor. I've said this before, when you put a USA jersey on, you are playing for your country, you are not playing for your state, your town, or your city. And what an honor it was for us to put that jersey on and accomplish what we accomplished. I’ve always said the gold medal is something that's incredible, but this is the frosting on the cake. To receive an award like this, an honor like this. This is it, guys. I don't think there's anything else we can get. This is just incredible. This is it. (Trump saying: There's nothing else) And. And thank you for. For making this happen.” / TRUMP AND ERUZIONE SHAKING HANDS

11. TRUMP POSING FOR FAMILY PICTURE ALONG WITH TEAM MEMBERS, RELATIVES AND OFFICIALS