Former CNN anchor Don Lemon criticized the U.S. men’s hockey team accepting a phone call from President Trump after the team’s gold medal victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics, calling the moment inappropriate and accusing the president of politicizing a national achievement.
This comes after Trump congratulated the team during a speakerphone call captured on video and widely shared online, following the United States defeat of Canada in the championship game, securing the program’s first Olympic gold medal in more than a decade.
The team’s celebration, which included applause and cheers during the call, drew praise from Trump supporters but backlash from critics who argued the moment should have remained apolitical.
Lemon also weighed in after a video showed Trump’s FBI director, Kash Patel, celebrating alongside players in the locker room.
In widely circulated clips, Patel appeared to join in postgame festivities, prompting questions online about the optics of a senior federal law enforcement official participating in the celebration.
Lemon: “He doesn’t care about this country!”
In a social media post reacting to the Trump phone call footage, Lemon wrote: “I don’t understand why anyone would want to be in the vicinity of this president… He is not a patriot, and he doesn’t care about this country!”
Lemon on Kash Patel
Referring to the Patel locker room footage, Lemon responded, “Why are you even there? On taxpayer dollars, on the plane. This administration is so tacky. You people have no class, it’s just gross. You’re trashy, it’s disgusting.”
Following their gold medal victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics, members of the United States women’s national ice hockey team responded cautiously to congratulations from Trump.
While acknowledging the honor of national recognition, the team declined an invitation tied to Trump’s State of the Union address, citing prior professional and academic commitments.
Players emphasized that their focus remained on celebrating their championship achievement and representing the United States, steering clear of direct political commentary amid broader debate surrounding the administration’s involvement in Olympic festivities.
The governing body for the sport, USA Hockey, has not publicly addressed Lemon’s comments. The organization has historically welcomed bipartisan recognition for major international wins, and presidential congratulations — regardless of party — have long been a tradition following championship victories.
Lemon’s criticism of the Trump administration comes as he faces his own legal battle in Minnesota, unfolding against heightened tensions over immigration enforcement, press freedom, and federal authority under Trump.
Federal prosecutors have charged Lemon in connection with a Jan. 2026 protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, after he followed and livestreamed anti-ICE demonstrators who interrupted a worship service. Court records show that Lemon has denied wrongdoing in the pending matter, and no final resolution has been announced.
Published: Feb 24, 2026 04:21 pm