US President Donald Trump has heaped praise on Russian NHL star Alex Ovechkin, as the Washington Capitals’ captain joined his teammates and league bosses on a much-anticipated visit to the White House on Monday.
Trump welcomed the first-time and reigning Stanley Cup winners to the Oval Office, where the team was led by Ovechkin, who seemed never to take his hand off the coveted trophy while standing by Trump’s side.
A team of great champions! https://t.co/Pm5p9L6TaX
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 26, 2019
“And this guy. I have no choice but to be his fan, because he is something special. Look at his hands. A special guy. A special athlete, player, they all are,” Trump said.
WATCH: Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) and the Washington Capitals, winners of the 2018 Stanley Cup, visit Trump in the White House pic.twitter.com/6I6bhuhP0I
— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) March 25, 2019
Going off-script, Trump asked where his daughter Ivanka was, who he said was a “tremendous fan.”
Ivanka had posed with the team after they won last June.
Hanging out in Georgetown with Ivanka #StanleyCup @NHL @Capitals @HockeyHallFame @IvankaTrump pic.twitter.com/IgSPRCZBTE
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) June 10, 2018
Trump, inside Oval Office, about Ovechkin:
“They call him Alexander the Great.”
Pic from pooler @meridithmcgraw pic.twitter.com/g9WrXndBfU
— Kathryn Watson (@kathrynw5) March 25, 2019
“Alexander the Great, they call him, has spent his entire 13-year NHL career with Washington Capitals and his hard work and loyalty has paid off last season. He outscored every player in the league with 64 goals,” Trump said.
Ovechkin & Trump even wearing matching suit & ties. JFC just hang the Russian flag from the White House balcony already.
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) March 25, 2019
Trump loves everything Russian.
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