Kash Patel publicly confirmed he joined members of Team USA in the locker room following their gold-medal victory over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, pushing back against what he described as media hand-wringing over his presence.

“For the very concerned media, yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys,” Patel wrote on X. “Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.”

He also shared photos of himself celebrating with the players, praising their “Unity, Sacrifice, Attitude” and calling them “gold medal champions, legends standing on the shoulders of giants.”

The Americans secured the title with an overtime win against Canada, capturing their first Olympic gold in men’s hockey in 46 years. The last time the U.S. topped the podium was at the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, when the underdog American squad defeated the Soviet Union in the semifinal en route to gold — a moment famously known as the “Miracle on Ice.”

Patel’s appearance came during the final weekend of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. His trip reportedly included meetings with Italian officials, though some media outlets focused on his presence at the hockey celebration.

Patel’s social media response made clear he saw no need to apologize, framing the moment as a patriotic celebration of a historic American sports achievement.