Celebrating gold, unity: Jewish athletes among those honored at State of the Union

By Bethany Blankley
The Center Square

Despite ongoing antisemitism in the U.S., including on college campuses, Jewish athletes helped propel the U.S. men and women’s hockey teams to win gold medals in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Members of the men’s team appeared at the State of Union address Tuesday night, receiving a standing ovation with members of Congress chanting, “USA! USA!”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen [nearly all Democrats] stand up,” President Donald Trump said.

The men’s hockey team defeated the U.S. archrival Canada on Feb. 22. It was the 46-year anniversary of the last time the U.S. men’s hockey team won gold. On Feb. 22, 1980, the U.S. men’s hockey team defeated the Soviet Union in the semifinals in what was described as the “Miracle on Ice” before going on to win gold.

Canadians have considered hockey their sport, dominating the Olympics and world stage, winning nine gold medals, the most of any country. But over the past several decades, the U.S. has built a formidable hockey program. The win on Sunday was the culmination of years of hard work and a dream 46 years in the making.

Both U.S. men’s and women’s teams defeated Canada in overtime to take home gold medals.

The men’s goalie, Connor Hellebuyck, had a .956 save percentage during the Olympics tournament with 41 saves in the game against Canada alone. Trump said he is awarding him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest presidential award given to civilians.

Leading the team to victory was Jack Hughes, who scored the “golden goal” to secure gold for Team USA. He was the first Jewish hockey player to be picked No. 1 in the NHL draft in U.S. history.

His older brother, Quinn, one of the best defensemen in the NHL, also was a key player in Team USA’s win. Jeremy Swayman was the third Jewish player on the team.

Jewish athlete Aerin Frankel, a two-time IIHF Women’s World Champion gold and silver medalist, also helped propel the women’s hockey team to victory as its star goalie. She previously made Winter Olympics history as the first goalie with three shutouts in a single Olympic tournament. No other goalie for any country can claim this feat. She is one of a handful of Jewish female players in the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

One of Team USA’s women’s coaches, an All-Star hockey player herself, was Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, Jack and Quinn’s mother.

The women’s hockey team will visit the White House, Trump said. Both teams represent the “spirit of winning” in America, he said. Earlier in the day, the men’s team arrived at the White House prior to making an appearance at the State of the Union address.

During the gold medal game, Jack Quinn was slammed by a Canadian player, breaking his front tooth with blood streaming down his face. After the game, he wore the American flag around his shoulders, smiling with a bloody mouth. He told NBC News, “I love the USA. I love my teammates. I’m so proud to be an American. We’re USA. We’re so proud to be Americans. We’re so proud to win for our country.”

Two days later, after the historic Olympic win, the Trump administration sued UCLA claiming antisemitic violence, open harassment of Jewish students, faculty and staff after the university refused to respond to civil rights complaints filed by Jewish and Israeli employees in nearly three years.

Ongoing issues at UCLA continue after antisemitic violence erupted on college campuses nationwide after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel. During the State of the Union speech, Trump criticized Democratic U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, who he and others have argued have fomented antisemitism and violence in the U.S. They jeered in response.

In 2024, the number of antisemitic attacks tracked by the Anti-Defamation League were the most on record since it began reporting antisemitic incidents in 1979, The Center Square reported. There were 9,354 antisemitic incidents reported nationwide, including of harassment, vandalism and assault against Jewish- and Israeli-Americans or Jewish institutions and houses of worship.

The majority, 64%, occurred in 10 states. New York led the U.S. with the most, followed by California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, Illinois, Colorado and Virginia.

In an effort to hold accountable financiers of antisemitic riots, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and several Republican cosponsors, introduced the Stop Financial Underwriting of Nefarious Demonstrations and Extremist Riots (Stop FUNDERs) Act, The Center Square reported. Other bills were also filed to address antisemitism that have yet to pass and be signed into law.

Despite ongoing threats, a group that tracks antisemitism in the U.S. and abroad, expressed optimism, pointing to Jack Hughes’ pride to be an American. It said, “His words reflect what so many American Jews feel every day: deep gratitude, unwavering patriotism, and profound love for this country. American Jews are proud to call the U.S. home, proud to represent it, and proud to contribute to its strength and success on the world stage.”