A White House visit, a tray of McDonald’s, and a separate lunch in Milan have collided online. President Donald Trump served fast food to the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey champions this week. Around the same time, the U.S. women’s team was photographed dining with actor Stanley Tucci in Italy. The images travelled fast.
A video shared from inside the White House showed the men’s team unwrapping burgers and fries. Huffpost reported that Trump has done this before. In 2019, he served McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King to Clemson’s national championship football team during a government shutdown, citing staffing shortages. North Dakota State’s football team got a similar spread months later.
Trump Serves McDonald’s to Team USA After Olympic Gold
President Donald Trump hosted the U.S. men’s hockey team at the White House following their Olympic gold medal victory over Canada, marking the occasion with a familiar fast food spread. pic.twitter.com/s7tdAx9sUl
— Orbital News (@orbital_news_) February 26, 2026
This time it was hockey. Trump met the Olympic Gold medalists and served them burgers. Again. The White House kitchen employs career chefs. State dinners can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, with multi-course menus and carefully selected wines. That wasn’t the look here. The online reaction was blunt.
Hey folks!
On the left, the Men’s Hockey Team went to the White House to have McDonald’s and poses a picture with Donald Trump.
On the right, the Women’s Hockey Team had lunch and poses a picture with Actor Stanley Tucci. pic.twitter.com/wHaP86Rj5F
— Lucas Sanders 👊🏽🔥🇺🇸 (@LucasSa56947288) February 26, 2026
“How embarrassing. The gold medal–winning USA Hockey Team visits the White House, and Trump serves them McDonald’s,” one post read. Another said, “The WH literally has the best chefs in their staff working 24/7 for the POTUS and events. And he orders takeout?”
A third user wrote that the players “deserved potatoes and steak” but got “burgers and fries,” ending the post with a fries emoji.
Not everyone was surprised. Trump has long described himself as a fast-food loyalist, once saying he preferred it for consistency and cleanliness. McDonald’s is not unusual food. It just looked different under chandeliers… of the White House.
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Then came the side-by-side comparisons of the Olympic champions.
Photos circulated of the U.S. women’s hockey team in Milan, seated at a long table with Stanley Tucci. The actor, known for his love of Italian food and for hosting culinary travel shows, joined them for lunch ahead of their gold medal win. This time there were plates of pasta, wine glasses on the table, and white tablecloths.
“I’m sorry, the women’s team having lunch with legend Stanley Tucci while the dudes were served Big Macs at the WH is killing me,” one user posted. Another penned, “Meeting Stanley Tucci is a gazillion times better than meeting literally any president ever.”
Ummm you treated them like a travel boy’s hockey team by feeding them McDonald’s for lunch. PATHETIC and insulting. https://t.co/fAq2Drs5Vz
— T*M*M*♥️🕊️ (@TraceyM0802) February 26, 2026
The women’s team had earlier declined an invitation to attend Trump’s State of the Union address. Members instead accepted other invitations, including a celebration hosted by rapper Flavor Flav, who has publicly supported women’s sports. The men attended the White House event.
That contrast of burgers in Washington and pasta in Milan did the rest.
These dudes went to the Olympics, won a Gold medal, allowed themselves to be used as political props by Trump et. al. 20yrs from now, that’s all anyone will remember about 2026 Men’s Olympic Hockey team… All they got was McDonald’s & had to sit through a 2hr speech… https://t.co/PXAZGcGsvR
— TAKES2FIRSTNAMES (@P23M_) February 26, 2026
Some posts focused on respect for the office. Others zeroed in on optics. A few joked about flying to Florida in Crocs and pajamas next, folding in the current airport debate.
To be on the US women’s hockey team andddd enjoy a meal with Stanley Tucci in Milan? The universe has favorites https://t.co/9tVEv5PlLB
— Jess LaRock (@jesslarock) February 26, 2026
The White House has not indicated any change in how it hosts championship teams. In fact, there is no formal rule requiring a specific type of meal. Visits are ceremonial. Photos are taken and speeches are made. The menu varies.
This one, thanks to Trump lovin’ it, came in paper wrappers. The Milan lunch came on porcelain plates. Both teams won gold, but the interweb says that one team received the better lunch.
