Tage Thompson responds to MAGA hat criticism after Team USA gold: 'Proud to be an American'

NEWARK, N.J. – It's been a agelong fewer days for Buffalo Sabres prima Tage Thompson. He scored a captious extremity for Team USA successful the team's semifinal lucifer against Slovakia, and past went connected to assistance the U.S. yet decision Canada connected Sunday to seizure the golden medal astatine the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

Thompson admitted aft Wednesday's crippled against the New Jersey Devils, the archetypal NHL crippled for Buffalo since the Olympic break, that helium was tired, rusty and sluggish connected the ice. But astir fans wouldn't cognize it. Thompson scored Buffalo's archetypal extremity of the nighttime and assisted connected the 2nd arsenic the Sabres emerged with a 2-1 triumph implicit the Devils. 

New Jersey Devils' Jack Hughes, right, and Buffalo Sabres' Tage Thompson motion to fans earlier an NHL hockey crippled successful Newark, New Jersey, connected Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Jack Hughes, a Devils prima and the Team USA skater who scored the game-winning extremity successful overtime to decision Canada, was honored by the squad during a pregame ceremony. Hughes pulled an incredibly classy determination and brought Thompson retired to halfway ice, truthful the assemblage could cheer the brace together. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Still, arsenic awesome arsenic Thompson's instrumentality to the crystal was, the communicative for overmuch of the media pursuing Team USA's historical golden medal triumph revolves astir the team's travel to the White House and quality during Tuesday's State of the Union code by President Trump. 

White House Visit, MAGA Hat Photo Spark Backlash

Thompson, successful particular, recovered himself successful the crosshairs of the extremist left-wing media mob due to the fact that helium was photographed wearing Trump's celebrated "Make America Great Again" chapeau alongside property caput Karoline Leavitt and respective teammates. 

Karoline Leavitt shared a photograph to societal media posing with lawman manager of communications, Margo Martin, and respective members of Team USA. The photograph included Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman, Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, Jack and Quinn Hughes, and Buffalo Sabres guardant Tage Thompson. Both Hughes brothers wore reddish and achromatic USA hats, portion Thompson sported a "Make America Great Again" hat, prompting wide backlash connected societal media.   (Karoline Leavitt via Instagram)

I asked Thompson aft the crippled if helium had immoderate effect to the disapproval implicit his chapeau choice. 

"I'm arrogant to beryllium an American, and I person my ain faith, my ain beliefs, and everyone's entitled to their ain opinions and beliefs, arsenic well," Thompson said diplomatically arsenic helium sat astatine his locker aft the game. "I deliberation we should beryllium capable to unrecorded successful bid knowing that not everyone's going to hold with you." 

Speaking of Thompson's faith, I besides asked him astir his Christian beliefs that helped signifier everything successful his life. 

"Jesus is everything to me. Obviously, we're made imperfect. We're each sinners, and we request him. And I autumn abbreviated each azygous day, and he's the 1 I trust on," Thompson said. 

Buffalo Sabres' Tage Thompson (72) celebrates with teammates aft scoring a extremity during the 2nd play of an NHL hockey crippled against the New Jersey Devils successful Newark, New Jersey, connected Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

"I deliberation erstwhile you person that consciousness of hope, the grace and the mercy that I person each time from him is thing that gives maine bid and joyousness successful life, nary substance what I do. And he's blessed maine with this crippled and this accidental to play the crippled I emotion astatine a precocious level, a beauteous household and friends, radical situation maine that I love. And I'm conscionable precise grateful." 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

I deliberation American hockey fans tin confidently accidental they are grateful to Tage Thompson and each the players connected the Team USA men's hockey squad that helped present 1 of the astir monumental golden medals successful U.S. Winter Olympics history. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Related Article