President Trump hosted a White House reception in the East Room for Team USA athletes from the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Milan and Cortina to celebrate their achievements.

He asked about training for the next Olympics, with many athletes signaling preparations for the 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games.

Trump acknowledged the athletes’ sacrifices, recalling his own athletic days with a humorous comparison of his performance.

The event and remarks were documented by iHeartRadio.

He characterized a prior court ruling as making sports unconstitutional, a claim that drew muted reactions from attendees per AP reporting.

AP photographs by Alex Brandon accompanied the coverage, credited to The Associated Press, copyright 2026.

Damp weather forced the indoor swap from an outdoor plan, with the indoor reception held in the Rose Garden’s East Room.

Context notes referenced ongoing U.S. political dynamics, including Wisconsin primary chatter and commentary about progressive challengers, as background rather than central to the event.

USA Today, USOPC, and NBC Olympics corroborated the attendance and medal counts for the ceremony.

Paralympians contributed 24 medals, including 13 golds, and sled hockey marked a fifth straight Paralympic gold for that program.

Attendees spanned multiple sports in Team USA, including figure skating, curling, luge, speedskating, bobsledding, snowboarding, and alpine skiing, with not all 2026 athletes present.

Some posters on X criticized Trump's remarks, while others noted athletes’ facial expressions during the speech.