Trump applauds Putin loyalist Ovechkin for Capitals’ Stanley Cup win

Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin has understandably been smothered with praise in the hours since raising the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history on Thursday night. But of all the accolades he’s received for the five-game series win over the Vegas Golden Knights, none was as notable as President Donald Trump’s congratulatory Tweet on Friday morning.

‘Congratulations to the Washington Capitals on their GREAT play and winning the Stanley Cup Championship,’ read Trump’s Tweet. ‘Alex Ovechkin, the team captain, was spectacular – a true Superstar! D.C. is popping, in many ways. What a time!’

Ovechkin, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the 2018 NHL postseason, is a staunch supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who, according to U.S. agencies, ordered interference into the 2016 election with the aim of hurting Trump’s opponent, Hillary Clinton, and undermining the U.S. democratic process. The NHL veteran went so far as announce the start of a social movement he called ‘PutinTeam’ in a November post on Instagram.

Alexander Ovechkin and Vladimir Putin have remained enthusiastic supporters of each other

President Donald Trump praised Ovechkin for the Capitals’ first Stanley Cup victory on Friday

Alexander Ovechkin started a social media movement, #PutinTeam, to support his president 

‘Today, I want to announce a social movement in the name of PutinTeam,’ Ovechkin wrote in the post, which featured a picture of him being embraced by Putin. ‘Be a part of this team — to me it’s a privilege, it’s like the feeling of when you put on the jersey of the Russian team, knowing that the whole country is rooting for you.’

Ovechkin has said his praise of Putin is somehow non-political, stressing that he hopes for better relations between the two countries, which is a desire Trump has expressed publicly as well.

Trump’s subtly self-congratulatory tweet (‘D.C. is popping, in many ways’) is noteworthy because it comes at a time when the traditionally friendly relationship between the White House and the world of sports has become increasingly political.

Recently Trump has butted heads with several of America’s most prominent athletes, such as NBA superstars LeBron James and Stephen Curry as well as the NFL players who have protested inequality by refusing to stand during the national anthem.

It was the latter controversy that made headlines for most of the week as Trump rescinded a White House invitation to the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles after it was learned that only a very small number of players planned on attending the event.

President Donald Trump sings the national anthem with a U.S. Army chorus during a ‘Celebration of America’ event on the south lawn of the White House on June 5 in Washington, DC. The event, originally intended to honor the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, was changed after the majority of the team declined to attend the event due to a disagreement with Trump over NFL players protesting inequality by kneeling during the national anthem

One spectator took a knee during the National Anthem during the White House event Tuesday

In a statement, the White House accused the players of concocting a political stunt and suggested that they objected to Trump’s belief that everyone should stand for The Star-Spangled Banner.

However, while many Eagles players have been outspoken advocates for social change, the entire team did stand for the anthem throughout the regular season and postseason.

In a Tweet on Tuesday, Trump falsely pointed out that the Eagles have been the only high-profile team to decline his invitation in large numbers. (Trump previously disinvited the reigning NBA Champion Golden State Warriors to the White House in September after Curry publicly hesitated to accept the customary invitation).

‘We have had many Championship teams recently at the White House including the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Penguins, New England Patriots, Alabama and Clemson National Champions, and many others,’ Trump tweeted.

A half-hour later he added to that list, he added NASCAR champion Martin Truex Jr.’s name.

‘@NASCAR and Champion @MartinTruex_Jr were recently at the White House. It was a great day for a great sport!’ Trump tweeted.

Although its ratings have fallen nationally, NASCAR remains popular in the south, a reliable Trump political stronghold.

Philadelphia, by contrast, is the center of a metropolitan area that broadly supported Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Trump offered his podium to 2017 NASCAR Cup champion Martin Truex Jr., during a ceremony for him and his racing team on the South Lawn of the White House on May 21

Malcolm Jenkins (No. 27) and Ron Brooks (No. 33) of the Eagles raise their fists in protest during the national anthem before a game. Trump disinvited the team from a White House event after it was learned that only a very small number of players planned on attending

The president mocked the NFL, tweeting: ‘[N]o escaping to Locker Rooms!’

In the wake of the controversy over the Eagles’ visit, Trump was pre-emptively rebuffed by both Curry and James, who said their respective teams would not be visiting the White House in the event they go on to win the NBA Finals (Curry’s Golden State Warriors hold a 3-0 lead on James’ Cleveland Cavaliers heading into Friday’s Game 4)

‘I know regardless of who wins this series, no one wants an invite anyway,’ James said Tuesday. ‘It won’t be Golden State or Cleveland going.’

‘I agree with ‘Bron,’ Curry said later.

In September, after Curry publicly stated that he, personally, did not want to make the customary trip to the White House, Trump publicly rescinded his invitation to the reigning NBA champion Warriors.

James, whose Cavaliers lost the Warriors in the 2017 NBA Finals and are on the verge of doing so again, defended Curry on Twitter at the time, calling Trump a ‘bum.’

‘U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain’t going!’ James Tweeted. ‘So therefore ain’t no invite. Going to the White House was a great honor until you showed up!’

Donald Trump previously withdrew an invitation to the Golden State Warriors after Stephen Curry hesitated when asked if he would be in attendance last September 

At the time, LeBron James rushed to Curry’s defense and blasted Trump

Stephen Curry will not be going to the White House if and when the Warriors finish off the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. Golden State holds a 3-0 lead heading into tonight’s Game 4

Both the Warriors and Cavaliers visited the White House after winning titles during former President Barack Obama’s second term.

Even Ovechkin’s teammate, Devante Smith-Pelly, has already said he would not be going over an objection to Trump’s rhetoric.

‘The things that he spews are straight-up racist and sexist,’ Canada’s Postmedia quoted Smith-Pelly as saying Wednesday as the Capitals prepared for Thursday’s Game 5. (Both Smith-Pelly and Ovechkin scored in Thursday’s clinching victory)

‘Some of the things he’s said are pretty gross. I’m not too into politics, so I don’t know all his other views, but his rhetoric I definitely don’t agree with. It hasn’t come up here, but I think I already have my mind made up.’

Smith-Pelly, one of two black Capitals players, is from the Toronto area.

Trump, of course, has not been silent on the subject. He has referred to protesting NFL players as ‘sons of b******’ and suggested anyone who stayed in the locker room rather than stand on the field during the anthem should leave the country.

Devante Smith-Pelly absolutely refuses to go to the White House if the Capitals win the Cup